E-Cig Regulations May Be Coming to the Empire State

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State could go the way of New York City when it comes to electronic cigarette restrictions.

In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is making a push to include electronic cigarettes in indoor smoking bans. Under the proposal, e-cigarette use would be prohibited anywhere smoking is banned — including offices and restaurants.

A similar measure went into effect in New York City in April 2014, as CSNews Online previously reported.

Cuomo's proposed $141.6-billion budget submitted Wednesday would also block the sale of flavored solutions and advertisements targeted at children, according to Bloomberg. New York already prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18, a measure the governor signed into law in April 2012. That law took effect Jan. 1, 2013.

"The spike in the use of unregulated electronic nicotine devices (electronic cigarettes and similar products) over the last few years is of great public health concern," Cuomo said in a policy document released Wednesday. "These products potentially undermine all the public health benefits achieved in New York that have produced enormous reductions in youth tobacco use."