Hawaii's Largest Vape Chain to Close Over New Flavor Ban Laws
A major vape retailer in Hawaii is shutting down for good, a sign of how hard new anti-vaping laws are hitting the industry.
- Volcano E-Cigs, Hawaii's largest vape chain with 13 stores across three islands, will close on December 31, one day before new state laws take effect.
- The new rules ban disposable e-cigarettes and only allow products approved by the FDA, shrinking the legal market from about 7,000 products down to roughly 48.
- Lawmakers pushed the laws to stop kids from getting hooked on flavored vapes sold in stores and online, saying nicotine addiction is hurting students' focus in school.
- The closure will cost about 50 workers their jobs, and the owner warns that without strong enforcement, the ban could just push buyers toward black market, cash-only sellers instead of shutting down vaping.
Outlook: Expect more vape shops to close or go underground as the law kicks in, with enforcement against illegal sales likely to become the next big fight.