Lawsuit Accuses Long Island Company of Selling Illegal E-Cigarettes in New York City and Across the Nation
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Acting Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant have announced that the City of New York has filed a federal lawsuit today against a major distributor of disposable flavored e-cigarettes, popularly known as “vapes” — the most popular devices for nicotine use among middle and high school youth. The defendant — Price Point Distributors, Inc., based in Farmingdale, Long Island — is accused of distributing e-cigarettes with flavors such as snow cone, strawberry shortcake, and Hawaii Punch to retail stores and directly to consumers in New York City and around the country through online sales, violating nearly every applicable federal, New York state, and New York City law governing the sale of such products.
Today’s lawsuit seeks to block Price Point Distributors, Inc., from further sales of these illegal items, seeks both monetary damages and fines, and marks the latest effort by the Adams administration to curb illegal sales of flavored e-cigarettes, which are appealing and addictive, especially to teens.
“Part of protecting public safety means protecting the health of New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable — our children, who are more susceptible to nicotine addiction, especially when products are flavored to make the taste less harsh,” said Mayor Adams. “Protecting young New Yorkers means stubbing out illegal vape and e-cigarette sales that target them. Today’s lawsuit alleges that Price Point Distributors knew it was breaking laws by selling flavored cigarettes to New Yorkers, and even took measures to conceal these illegal sales from federal, state, and local authorities. This lawsuit, as well as our continued efforts to shut down illegal smoke shops, go hand-in-hand with the work our administration is doing to bring down overall crime in our city.”
“It is illegal to sell flavored e-cigarettes in New York City,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “With this lawsuit, the Adams administration is continuing to hold companies accountable when they put profits over the health of New Yorkers.”
“As alleged in the city’s complaint, defendants are abusing our laws and undermining public health,” said New York City Acting Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “By selling disposable vapes with kid-friendly flavors — such as cotton candy, raspberry watermelon, and cherry cola — defendants are putting profit before the wellbeing of young people. Flouting the law and fueling an epidemic of nicotine addiction among middle and high school students will not be tolerated by the City of New York.”
“Protecting the health of our young people, and of all New Yorkers, is among our highest priorities,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Today’s action helps us do that by cracking down on illegal distributors of vaping products — products we know often make their way into the hands of our young people. Whether through regulatory, legal, or other action, we will continue to fight every day for the health and wellbeing of every person that calls New York City home.”
“These illegal sales signify an indifference to New Yorkers’ laws and health, especially the health of teens, who are particularly susceptible to the allure of flavored e-cigarettes,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Interim Commissioner Michelle Morse. “We are committed to prioritizing young people’s health and safety over unfettered corporate interests. Preventing the sale of flavored vapes helps protect youth from nicotine dependence and other adverse health outcomes.”
“Vaping is incredibly dangerous and can lead to a lifetime of nicotine addiction,” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “At New York City Public Schools, we are committed to combating this trend head-on through targeted interventions, initiatives like CATCH My Breath NYC, and a dedicated cohort of Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists. I want to thank Mayor Adams for taking action on this critical issue, and I look forward to continuing to partner with our parents and school communities to keep our kids safe, healthy, and free from the dangers of vaping.”
“The Sheriff’s Office is proud to stand with Mayor Adams in the continuous effort to remove these dangerous products from the hands of our youth,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. “The dangers that these flavored vape products pose for our youth are serious. The flavors, colors, and common icons are targeting our youth and create an addictive habit that may cause lasting health concerns. Our officers have been removing these illegal products from the shelves since they were first banned in New York City, and we cannot allow manufacturers to continue bringing them back into our communities.”
“Flavored e-cigarettes are not only illegal in New York City, they pose a great danger to our children’s health and wellbeing,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “DCWP works hard to prevent these devices from being sold at retailers around the city, and we’re grateful to our partners at the Law Department and Mayor Adams for going after the source of these dangerous products.”
