Feds should crack down on Elf Bar vaping products aimed at kids, says Sen. Schumer
The feds should kill off a popular e-cigarette brand that appears to be aimed at children, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday.
He called China-based Elf Bar and said it has been getting social media influencers to advertise harmful nicotine products with flavors like apple, peach and cotton candy for kids.
“There’s a new e-cigarette in town. It is hooking the youth of New York City and Long Island with kid-friendly flavors and Gen Z colors,” Schumer told reporters.
“It’s made in China and is in all likelihood evading (Federal Drug Administration) rules on advertising cigarettes to children, including e-cigarettes.”
Elf Bar did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.
Noting that Elf Bar eschews traditional TV or print advertising, Schumer said the company has paid influencers to flaunt the product, garnering a staggering 1.6 billion views for clips with the Elf Bar hashtag on TikTok.
He called on the feds to investigate such practices.
“Depending on what the investigation finds, my message to the FDA and the Department of Justice is to take all possible action, including banning the Elf Bar,” the New York Democrat said. “Just as we had to drive Juul out of the market of targeting e-cigarette sales and advertising to children, we have to do the same with Elf Bar.”
Last year, the FDA moved to ban Juul sales in the US after the company came under pressure to stop selling flavored vaping products. The ban is now being played out in court.
“That left a void, and this Chinese company, Elf Bar, is trying to fill that void,” Schumer said.
Meanwhile, youth use of disposable e-cigarettes has “skyrocketed,” he noted.
Product blowing increased 1,000% among high school students from 2019 to 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s up 400% among high school students.
Elf Bar is available at bodegas and stores throughout the city and Long Island, Schumer said.
Recent promotions on social media have included an unboxing video for an Elf Bar product and a person dressing up as an Elf Bar for Halloween, he added.
“We believe that the FDA can shut down this advertising and eventually shut down Elf Bar,” Schumer said.