Skip to main content

Poll: Majority of Americans support vape ban, doubt it helps people quit smoking

Juul E-Cigarette
Eva Hambach/Getty Images

A majority of Americans support a federal flavored vape ban, and doubt e-cigarettes truly help people quit smoking cigarettes, according to new polling data from YouGov. Additionally, Americans consider vaping to be challenging to quit — contradicting years of industry marketing that suggests vaping works as a cessation aid.

52% support a ban at the federal level with 29% opposing according to results shared with Digital Trends, with support for municipal and state-level bans at similar levels. Nine in ten respondents reported hearing at least something about the vaping illness epidemic in the news, showing Americans are paying attention to the ongoing crisis.

Recommended Videos

According to public health officials, at least 21 people in the U.S. have died from a vaping-related lung illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were at least 1080 cases of the lung illness as of October 1. The CDC has warned the public at large to avoid using e-cigarettes, especially products containing THC, as it investigates the mysterious illness.

This high level of engagement with the negative press around vaping seems to be translating into questions over its health effects and safety, with nearly two-thirds expressing some level of concern. While the vaping industry has long maintained the position that e-cigarette use is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, the public at large appears to disagree.

YouGov did not break down responses between those who vape and those who don’t, which could skew the results considering the low numbers of respondents who used cigarettes or vaping products regularly. 15% said they had at least one cigarette a day, three times the number who said they vaped daily.

53% believe that e-cigarettes aren’t effective in helping people quit smoking cigarettes. Similar numbers see vaping as an equally difficult habit to kick, with just two in ten believing vaping is easy to stop.

With these results, it does seem that Americans would not push back against vaping bans, as many see vaping in a negative light. Other findings from the poll also suggest President Donald Trump would stand to lose little support if the ban does indeed take effect.

While two-thirds of those polled said Trump’s plans make no difference in their level of support, 12% say it makes them support him more and 9% less. Most of the drag on the president’s support comes from “Generation Z,” which isn’t surprising considering teen vaping is Trump’s primary impetus for the vaping ban.

Some groups had suggested that pursuing the vaping ban could harm the president’s chances for reelection. Several conservative lobbyists have also pressured the Administration to back off the ban in recent weeks, according to reporting from The Hill.

YouGov polled 1,227 people from September 24-25.

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
The uncertain future cost of Apple’s Emergency SOS feature
Person holding iPhone 14 searching for Emergency SOS satellite.

It's been roughly two years since the launch of the iPhone 14 and its Emergency SOS via satellite feature. You might recall that during the first two years, Apple said it would be free to use but that it might require a subscription after that time, according to MacRumors. Last year, Apple extended the time limit by one more year, so you actually have until November 2025, when the trial period ends.

That's good news. The Emergency SOS feature is, quite literally, lifesaving. During April of this year, three university students lost their way in a canyon and used the feature to call for help. Another story arose in July where the feature came through once more in a moment of crisis. And if you keep digging, you'll find numerous other examples of how this tech is truly beneficial.

Read more
Apple’s smart home display already sounds like a convenience victory
Nest Hub Max

Over the past few weeks, rumors of Apple developing a smart display for home control have picked up pace. The company is said to be developing two versions, and one of them might even feature a robotic arm and revive an iconic Mac’s design. 

Now, Bloomberg has shared some juicy details about how the entry-level option will look and work. The device will offer a 6-inch screen with a square-ish format flanked by sensors, including a FaceTime camera in landscape orientation. 

Read more
Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China
ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Read more