Smoke shop opens on east side

Despite the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new regulations that prohibits the sale and use of flavored tobacco products, Tin Do opened his new smoke shop on Lincoln Ave.

EZ Smoke Shop celebrated its grand opening Thursday in the wake of the Sept. 22 FDA Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control’s (FSPTCA) ban on cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors that may appeal to children.

According to the FDA’s Web site, the FSPTCA said that tobacco products that are included in the ban include, “a cigarette or any of its component parts (tobacco, filter or paper) with an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee.”

This regulation applies to all tobacco products that are under the definition of a cigarette.

Joey Boyington, EZ smoke shopper, heard about the reasons for the new ban.

“The FDA’s excuse is that the flavored cigarettes are geared towards kids,” Boyington said.

The FDA has been given many opportunities to collaborate with the public health community to address the critical public health issue of tobacco use.

The Web site said that, “scientists have found that kids think flavored tobacco products are safer and less addictive than regular tobacco products and the removal from the market is an important step in the FDA’s efforts to reduce the burden of illness and death caused by tobacco products.”

Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs, stated in a Sept. 22 New York Times article that, “These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers.”

Do said he is not too worried about the recent ban negatively impacting his business.

“There are thousands of products on my shelves,” Do said. “When they banned flavored cigarettes and rolling papers, that only took away three percent of the products I sell.”

Do said that he has heard the FDA does not plan on stopping at the ban of flavored cigarettes and papers.

“I have heard that they are going to try to go after banning flavored cigars next,” Do said.

Opening a new business can also be a major challenge during recessions, but Do said it has not impacted his business endeavors.

“I have other shops and I have not noticed changes in selling products.”

Do, who also owns smoke shops in Detroit Lakes, decided to open his shop near Target and Val’s burger shop because he noticed that there was no smoke shop on the east side.

“I opened it here so the people on the east side wont have to go over the bridge to buy from a smoke shop,” Do said.

Do said that buying products from a smoke shop may be more convenient than picking them up at one of the many convenience stores around.

“When you go to a smoke shop, you have a big space to park in, don’t have to wait in line, have a big selection of very competitively priced products.”