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See why others support CounterBalance, then write and share your own reason below.

Not only am I concerned that tobacco producers are making products that taste good to kids, but they put them in fun packaging to attract children.

Traci Bartlett

_{East Dover}

I lost my grandfather at a very young age do to a smoking related illnesses and I don't want my teenaged boys, or any youth to be enticed into getting hooked.

Brande Pike

_{East Dover}

Our children have learned that smoking cigarettes is not okay. It's a shame that this wonderful movement might be reversed because of profit and marketing.

Magdaline V

_{East Dummerston}

I oppose flavored products because of the level of exposure and use by youth.

Casey M

_Putney

Flavored tobacco encourages children to use tobacco products. Adults don't usually even like flavored products!

Nathan Rupard

_Brattleboro

I am concerned about flavored tobacco products because when it tempts children to try it, it may cause an addiction that can create much conflict between friends and family. Not only does tobacco destroy your lungs, but it can also destroy relationships.

Eben W

_Brattleboro

Why would anything like this be considered anything else but a target for kids and to get kids interested in smoking?

Leo S

_Wilmington

Everyone I know has these e-cigarettes called Juuls and I'm sure in the long run these are going to hurt everyone.

Damian D

_Brattleboro

Flavored tobacco makes people more attracted to it. The fruity flavors may seem to taste good and make people want it more. It targets children and is very bad. It is a trick.

Lexie C

_Spofford

They aren't thought of as much of a threat by young people.

Alexandra M

_Brattleboro

I am against flavoring tobacco products because it makes them more attractive. My mom used to smoke then she got breast cancer so she had to quit. She is starting to get back into it and flavoring the products is not helping our problem.

Emma O

_Bennington

I just think it's scary that whenever I go to the math hallway bathroom it smells like strawberry cheesecake. Most (if not all) kids I know that use tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes and Juuls, don't know that they are unsafe and harmful.

Lucy P

_Brattleboro

I honestly feel like these products have changed some of my closest friends. At the beginning of sophomore year no one had done anything related to this and it only took months from the first time some of them Juuled to when they were clearly addicted. The most frustrating part is that many are in denial about this clear addiction they struggle with. P.S. Parents are clueless.

Amelia G

_Dummerston

Our kids deserve better than being used by businesses to get them addicted to nicotine.

Jeannie Hodsden

_{Bellows Falls}

I have read many articles about the poisons that are in the juice, the nicotine, the brain damage , the lung damage. It is the same thing as drinking a can of drano for plumbing purposes. Our children are at risk.

Annette Spaulding

_Rocking

Leave our kids alone!

Deb wW

_Brattleboro

Encouraging kids to smoke a vape is so wrong!!! I'm a smoker of 40+ years and it's impossible to quit!

Katy Valdez

_{St. Johnsbury}

I am concerned because many of my students do not think flavored tobacco or tobacco in general is a concern.

Emily Gunn

_Rutland

As a concerned parent, I feel all tobacco products and especially flavored/candied tobacco is underhanded and unacceptable.

Tina Martin

_Woodstock

I know a lot of people who began vaping because of the flavors and I don't want to see the youth of my state being misled into addiction.

Nickolas Stapleton

_Perkinsville

Please don't have these products where my grandchildren can see them in the stores

Efstathiou Laura

_Windsor

I am super concerned about flavored tobacco products - especially ecigs. It is awful that kids are being marketed to like that.

Beth Haysleti

_Bethel

It encourages students to start smoking.

Pat Gelo

_Derby

As a new parent, I do not want my boys to have to grow up surrounded by products that are so bad for their health.

Sara Zaino

_Peru

It's causing all kinds of illness and that's killing all kinds of people.

Kynzie Smith

_Springfield

Because I feel these products are marketed to young children who don't understand the health risk of said product.

Rosie DeCamp

_{Bellows Falls}

Grooming teens as tobacco users is wrong.

Andy Jackins

_Townshend

They encourage kids to try deadly tobacco products.

Julie Sweet

_Swanton

I'm concerned about flavors that appeal to kids. I'm also concerned about advertising to kids and the kids thinking vaping is cool.

Jeannete Boos

_Wilmington

I don't like that kids are getting addicted at a young age!

Rosie Senna

_Burlington

They are a gateway to addiction and are being marketed to youth.

Cheryl Chandler

_{West Danville}

Tobacco can damage your lungs and over time make it hard to breath.

Madison Ashford

_Williamstown

People are unaware that the effects are of flavored tobacco are the same as smoking or chewing tobacco.

Amra Jusupovu

_Burlington

Flavored tobacco products provide an easy pathway to possible lifelong addiction for our kids to tobacco use.

Karen Avery

_{West Dover}

By making flavored tobacco products attractive to young people - they get hooked at an early age, and it is very hard to quit! Oral cancer is a very real concern.

Rhea Clark

_Wilmington

People think vaping is healthier than smoking, so they think it's okay.

Meredith Pelton

_Springfield

The 1 percent makes Billions off of the disease & sales of all carcinogenic products-tobacco; dairy; meat; food additives; RoundUp & other crop additives; ad Infinitum! Please STOP poisoning the people, children, water, animals & planet!

Adam Steinberg

₀₅₀₃₈

Don't start smoking! A lot of people start from peer pressure. I smoked from a young teen. It was making me sick. A lot of flem most of the time. I was chocking. I tried different ways to stop and nothing worked. I was chocking on my flem. I was scared at that point. Soon after I saw that a hypnotist was going to help people in a local hotel. I didn't think it would work, but it did. I never had another urge to smoke .. Thirty years later still no smoking. I found it to be a god send. One home town man I knew was there that day and sadly he was to late and he died not long after.. He was such a nice man and he was gone way to soon. I hope this helps someone to realize an addiction can be cured. The hard part is to get stared and to get help... It is so worth it.

Colleen Jacobs

₀₅₃₀₃

Our youth are our greatest resource. Why risk their lives when older and future generations need a future with healthy generation?

Wendy Schwarz

₀₅₁₄₃

Smoking causes so many life altering ( mouth cancer ) and life ending casualties ( lung cancer, liver distruction) and is so tragically addictive. I have a son who is a smoker and cannot quit even though his liver count was too high.

Pamela

₀₅₀₉₁

It is extremely addictive. It causes cancer and horrible breathing problems. I was a nurse for 44 years. I saw many who couldn’t quit because of the addiction to nicotine.

Darcy Picucci

₀₅₇₀₁

Another not so subtle way the tobacco industry seeks to make a profit on the backs of our youth at the expense of their and our collective health.

Janet Young

₀₅₄₄₈

When I quit smoking 44 years ago it was the hardest thing I ever did. We didn't have anything to help stop. It was cold turkey lol. I had to change my whole daily routine. No COFFEE in the morning because that meant having a cigarette on and on but I was determined. Not only health wise the cost of cigarettes today when they were 50cents a pack when I stopped. And the flavored thing Is disgusting. We need to stop it.

Lynda maloney

₀₅₈₇₁

As a young foreign exchange student to France, I took up smoking to fit in. After a month or so I realized I could not cycle very far, nor could I climb a flight of stairs without being out of breath. I quit. I became a nurse, and I lost my Mother to lung cancer at an early age. She had been a smoker her entire life. As an RN I have seen the devistation that smoking brings not just on the individual who smokes but on families and children.

Anne Leidinger

₀₅₀₆₈

We have lost several family members to smoking related cancer and heart issue.

M H

₀₅₂₀₁

Young folks with breathing problems (asthma, prone to colds, etc) could have serious health issues if using eCigs....they will be hard to treat, and could do life-long damage to lungs....

Gretchen Hammer

₀₅₈₁₉

Because I've seen too many friends and relatives suffer or die from smoking. Did you ever wonder if inhaling all that smoke from Dog's smoking gave Beth throat cancer? My mom smoked my husband smoked, I now have COPD. I NEVER smoked a day in My life. Think ahead . In 20 years do you want to wake up and find your child has heart disease or cancer cause they inhaled your smoke?

Jackie Carlstrom

₀₅₄₄₃

I've seen to many use tobacco products, as an alternative to healthier choices to deal with stress, and other behavioral concerns. it's amazing to see young people taking the lead on this, as adults we need to support their actions with funding and resources to meet the needs for alternative reinforcement of desirable behaviors.

Thomas Fraga

₀₅₄₀₄

It may be cliche, but the youth are our future. Keep in mind also that vaping is not a safe alternative either. Ingesting liquid vapor into the lungs can and in some cases have caused pneumonia, which can be fatal.

Robert Messier

₀₅₀₄₈

To stop 🛑 Cancer and Death

James Peterson

₀₅₂₅₇

Flavor tobacco, any tobacco will damage your lungs and other parts of your body! Don't smoke or chew!

Gypsy Loomis

₀₅₄₆₁

I think it's ironic that part of the agreement with state and federal government is for "Big Tobacco " to help educate people, particularly our youth as to the dangers of cigarettes, tobacco, the possibilities of addictions (can be physical, mental, emotional or any combination thereof ) as well as the health risks and possibly even death. They pay lip service even as they find new strategies to attack a new and vulnerable generation. This needs to end. In Vermont if not nation wide. We are better than this and our youth are our most valuable asset.

Victoria Austin

₀₅₆₄₁

Dont use tobacco products at all cancer loss of lung strength lip cancer gum cancer stained fingers all the expense use your brains due the math c'mon young people dont use send a message to all the tobacco companies in more killing our citizens and it starts now

Alfred Livingstone III

₀₅₀₈₈

Its one nasty habit bad for you

M Wright

₀₅₄₄₃

I have been smoking tobacco for 51 years and I can't stop. It is a horrible addiction, so kids quit before you become like me.

Kendra Parkington

₀₅₆₄₁

Way too many kids under the age to smoke are finding ways to bend the rules in order to purchase tobacco products. The advertising is not totally accurate and the tobacco suppliers bend the laws in order to be within the law.

Harold Harvey

₀₅₁₀₁

One of every two people who use any form of tobacco will die of a tobacco related disease. I think that anyone who sees evil and does nothing to stop it is as guilty as one who creates the evil.

Vaclav Reznicek

₀₅₄₄₇

Because there are too many people with cancer

Ruth Smith

₀₅₈₃₂

There is nothing good about smoking. Its bad enough plain and to think about adding flavors to more people addicted is unsure.

Laurie Miner

₀₅₇₃₃

By smoking it will effect your lungs and other body parts at a young age, people are unaware of this as well.

Gypsy Loomis

₀₅₄₆₁

My mother died when she was 41 my father when he was 50. They both smoked heavily and had strokes. I have diminished lung capacity because when I was a child parents didn't feel it was that important not to smoke while holding a baby.

Scott Bogardus

₀₅₀₀₁

It's really bad for you, could damage your body if not could kill you. Don't make you look good makes you smell like a nasty ashtray. I won't lie I use to smoke. In September of this year will be 3 years I have been tobacco free. It's the best thing I could do. Using tobacco deteriorates the body making it hard to breathe and tarnishes your lungs which in turn makes you cough uncontrollably. Since I have quit I have been able to breathe better and I can move and exercise without being out of oxygen or wheezing. If you have babies of kids second hand is even worse for them so if you love them don't even try it. Stay healthy Stay away

Windy Bowman

₀₅₈₅₇

It's a habit that can kill, causes to many health problems.

Heidi Warner

₀₅₇₀₁

I support protecting our youth because I am a 50 yr. Smoker and if you stop when you're younger, the chances of dying the way I am will be diminished greatly.

Caroltn Rossi

₀₅₈₅₅

It's difficult to watch smoker friends struggle with health issues, especially when they realize their own choices have brought them to the discomfort they are experiencing. Fresh air for ALL to breathe is also lost.

Lucia Nye Button

₀₅₀₃₃

I am opposed to tobacco advertising of any kind. The product is a proven killer

Gene Morrison

₀₅₁₅₂

It isn't something they need in their lives

Joseph madore

₀₅₆₄₁

I started smoking when I was 12. Young people are vulnerable to anything they can be convinced is cool or desirable.. It was very hard to quit. It took me 5 years and many tries to make it, that was 36 years ago. I know many recovering addicts who can't quit tobacco. I think it is the hardest addiction to break.

dianne richardson

₀₅₆₀₂

Because I was addicted by child targeting at 15. Full blown COPD at 52

Keith Capron

₀₅₆₄₁

Teens don't realize the ramifications of these products. Those who manufacture them do and should be held accountable. We should be making it blatantly obvious what the risks are and stop hiding behind flavors that are meant to trick the young mind into addiction.

Rebekah Alger

₀₅₇₃₆

My Grandmother died from COPD caused from having smoked for most of her life, as did my Step - Dad who passed away from lung cancer from smoking.. its time to STOP encouraging kids to take up a potential death sentence!

Tammie DeGrasse Stammers

₀₅₀₀₁

My husband,father of four,grandfather to 6 is a wonderful man who is end stage copd and is dying because of tobacco .He started smoking when he was 10 Years old.This is something no family should ever have to go through.We are sad beyond words!

Merri Paquin

₀₅₆₇₉

Health issues for them and others around them. Asthma, Lung cancer, Mouth cancer, Ear infections for children etc.

Melba Ferland

₀₅₆₆₁

All Tobacco products and flavored vapor products are so addictive, expensive and dangerous to everyones health. The numerous flavorings and "Fad" gimmicks are so enticing to our youth. I believe it can lead to lifetime medical concerns and/or complications and definitely lifetime addictions.

Valerie M. Cooper

₀₅₇₃₃

Tobacco addiction keeps poor people poor.

With held

₀₅₄₇₈

Because mouth cancer and lung cancer kills!! As adults/parents we need to make it real! Show our kids what a picture of mouth cancer looks like! They deserve a healthy future and the smoking effects old and young!! Even our pets!!

Anne nartowicz

₀₅₇₀₁

Tobacco use is addictive, expensive and can lead to lung or gum cancer whether it's flavored or not. It's irresponsible to entice youth with flavored tobacco products.

Beth McKinney

₀₅₃₀₁

Big Tobacco is praying on our kids by using flavored tobacco. We would protect them from other types of predators, so how is this any different. Our children are the future do something!

Alicia Barrow

₀₅₀₀₁

it is very unhealthy

juanita jean corlis

₀₅₁₅₆

I quit smoking 2014 and I still have trouble breathing. I have COPD stage 2. I am on a inhaler. I have to take breaks going up stairs and up hills. I smoked for a very long time 45 years. That's how addicting cigarettes are. E-cigarette are just as bad, they cause pop corn lungs. I smoke no more. It isn't good for anyone, Adults or CHILDREN.

Gypsy Loomis

₀₅₄₆₁

I was a smoker for many years...my young Grand-daughters asked me if I loved them enough to quit. I did!

Barbara Ayers

₀₅₄₄₆

I am an ex smoker and the habit is disgusting. Now I smell the smoke and makes me nauseated . The risk of cancer will last you all your life. If you believed life is beautiful and breath it in with all its potential do not screw it up, do not smoke.

Maria V Thetford ( certified ex smoker )

₀₅₆₀₂

Its a nasty habitat and takes so much away from you breathing smelling etc

Eden

₀₅₀₀₁

It’s unhealthy, expensive and advertising should not be trying to attract them to the product! Children have enough bad influences in the world today

Cynthia Neuenfeldt

₀₅₆₄₁

it is unhealthy addiction and can cause many cancers

juanita

₀₅₁₅₆

Because it is a very nasty hard to quit habit that will cause death in the sense of cancer!!!!

Tammy santamore

₀₅₀₅₁

I support protecting them because I quit and its been a year. I want my kids to be healthy.

Eden Tenney

₀₅₀₄₇

Because the youth are our future

Sarah wells

₀₅₄₀₈

So many different chemicals going into their lungs they have organs not even fully developed. It smells, it causes health issues, and it is marketed to our children who should be out enjoying life, not smoking to die. Batteries also blow up and cause serious injury!

Tamara Hill

₀₅₀₀₁

My father began smoking at age 13. He smoked all his life. He died at age 51.

Leslie Fry

₀₅₁₅₆

We know about the evils of tobacco manufacturers and the health hazards they knowingly surpressed. We know about the addictiveness of nicotine and the poisonousness of the other additives. It is a NO WIN situation for youth. The youth need protection from the powerful pushers whose only agenda is to get rich.

Nancy F.

₀₅₂₀₁

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

LOCATE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Together with your local community partner, you can:

Raise awareness by talking with members of your community about how you can protect Vermont's youth from the dangers of tobacco products.
Help pass a local resolution expressing concern about tobacco products being marketed to youth.
Educate community leaders about options to decrease exposure to tobacco products and advertising—like content-neutral signage requirements or safety zones around schools and parks.

HELP SOUND THE ALARM

Sharing this important information with your own social network is a simple way to help spread the word about how the tobacco industry targets Vermont’s youth.

ARE YOU A RETAILER?

Your store can help protect Vermont's youth from tobacco. Here are a few options to consider:

Take down exterior-facing tobacco ads such as sandwich boards or ads in windows
Choose to not advertise tobacco products by not displaying any ads inside or outside of your store
Take a step further and keep all tobacco products out of sight (under the counter or in a cabinet)
Volunteer to stop selling flavored tobacco products
Volunteer to stop selling all tobacco products

See What Other Vermont Retailers Are Doing to take a stand against the tobacco industry’s influence.

Get The Facts