Joining the fight against teen tobacco use

“We view e-cigarettes and vaping products as a tool to reduce smoking,” and deaths from it, said Nicholas John of the Washington-based nonprofit think tank, R Street Institute, which has an office in Massachusetts. John also attended last month’s Board of Health hearing.

He said his organization supports the increase in the minimum tobacco purchase age to 21. But, he said, flavored vape products are a safer alternative to cigarettes. John said tougher fines and penalties for stores that sell to minors would be a more pragmatic approach.