Mayor Snuffs Out Vape Ban Proposed By Lake Forest High School Students

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Lake Forest City Council is not interested in considering a local ban on flavored e-cigarettes, according to the mayor.

Two Lake Forest High School seniors addressed the City Council Monday on behalf of their civics class with a pair of proposed ordinances endorsed by the Lake County Health Department.

One would have ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and the other would have placed limitations on the number of retailers, according to the students.

Nick Wehmeyer said a municipal-level prohibition on flavored e-cigarettes would reduce the number of young people who start using the products, the sale of which is already prohibited statewide to anyone under age 21. He told aldermen vaping is an epidemic among his LFHS classmates.

"I have seen my peers use vaping products in school, at parties, social gatherings, sports events, pretty much everywhere," Wehmeyer said. "The detrimental health effects justify the regulation of these products in our community."

Wehmeyer said keeping the products out of stores in Lake Forest would limit its appealing marketing's local effects.

Xander Mazar said he, too, sees the addictive effects of nicotine on young people firsthand.

"Not only do I notice this, but many other students see the same thing, day-in and day-out. It doesn't matter if it is a one-time thing at an event, or whether it is seeing people vaping in school every day throughout every class period," he said. "It is very frustrating to sit around and see this happening with my peers.”

Mazar told the board he and his classmates had collected more than 100 responses to a survey, with 75 percent supporting a local ban on flavored tobacco and 84 percent supporting a limit on the number of tobacco retailers in the area.

"Given the overwhelming support from people around the community as well as the backing of the Lake County Health Department," he said, "I hope you'll follow them and other surrounding communities and make the right choice and help end this epidemic one and for all."

Mayor Randy Tack thanked the students for addressing the council about the issue and immediately informed them that there is little chance of it taking anti-vaping regulatory action. He suggested they instead pursue an education campaign to persuade their peers not to vape.

"While we appreciate you speaking on this issue, I want you to know that there are a few reasons why the City Council would be reluctant to consider a regulatory ban on the sale of these products," Tack said.

"Issues to consider: number one, there's been minimal documented history from the police department of violations by businesses selling tobacco products to minors. In addition, we have concerns about efficacy of banning tobacco products while still permitting certain tobacco products to be sold," he said.

"And, last, from what I understand, no other Lake County municipality has enacted a similar ban," the mayor said. "One has to question what the value of an isolated ban would be on the ability of youth to obtain these products."

Related: Ban Approved On All Flavored Tobacco In Evanston, A First In Illinois