Vaping is becoming a popular trend among young people, and companies are starting to target them in their marketing, says Shaikha Rahimi
When I was in high school, my friends and I would walk to the nearest candy store everyday. I was always tempted to spend all my pocket money on candy and snacks, but I was pretty self-disciplined. I knew my volleyball coach would somehow find out.
Nowadays, kids are drawn to a vibrant variety of slender boxes in the storefront window. Slender boxes labelled with “banana ice”, or “pink lemonade.” Gone are the days when kids would think of candy when hearing those words. They are apparently vape flavours now.
Regardless of vapes and cigarettes being restricted to those under 18 years-old, it’s no secret these health-deteriorating sticks still find their ways into the hands of kids.
Vape companies' marketing strategies rely on vibrant packaging to attract the wrong demographic, which is worrisome. I’m baffled at why a company would design a vape that looks like a bubble tea cup with a straw for a mouthpiece. The reality is that children are more susceptible to being influenced by these types of tactics, and it raises concerns about targeting kids in branding tactics.
Underage kids using disposable vapes is a really concerning issue. I think about this every time I enter my local convenience store, and it boils my blood every time I’m in town running errands around the time school kids are going home. The people that I see smoking vape get younger and younger. And honestly, why would they not? They are small and discreet, easy to hide from family, and they come in all sorts of fun colours and flavours. I’ve even seen fidget spinners that double as vaping devices. It's almost laughable.
If someone has been smoking for a long time and their doctor advised them to quit, their first port of call would not be to go for a raspberry-mojito-strawberry-chocolate-cookie flavoured vape. If someone has been smoking for years and years, this is the last thing they would be drawn to.
These products are specifically marketed towards a younger demographic. Vape companies have built fortunes on selling addictive nicotine-based products and they will surely maintain a steady stream of customers by passing on the habit to the next generation. Also, I don’t think that will require much effort. They will continue raking in net positive profits as long as little Jack can’t resist puffing on his blueberry-flavored vape and blowing smoke bubbles after class, which, let's be real, will probably be forever.
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