Nelson calls for ban on e-cigarette ads

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) called on the Senate to ban e-cigarette advertisements that he said are targeting children.

“Another question that this Senate should consider is banning the advertising that is obviously directed at young people,” Nelson said on the Senate floor Monday.

{mosads}Nelson came to the floor to talk about his bill that would childproof liquid nicotine bottles used to refill e-cigarettes.

He said Congress should also stop advertisements for e-cigarettes, as Congress did nearly 20 years ago for traditional cigarettes. Congress banned cigarette advertisements on radio and television because, he said, they were using pictures of beautiful people and cartoons to “hook” young people for life.

“This is a rerun of what went on 20 years ago,” Nelson said. “Tobacco product advertising on television and radio was banned by law because it was geared at getting young people hooked on tobacco.”

Nelson said e-cigarette manufacturers are also marketing to children with flavors such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Loops and Gummi Bears.