BETHLEHEM, PA — New A public opinion survey published by the Steam Technology Association The survey found that three-quarters of voters in three battleground states believe e-cigarettes are “as bad or worse than smoking cigarettes or other nicotine products.”
The poll, conducted by a firm led by former Trump administration official Kellyanne Conway, polled 600 voters in each of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Despite scientific conclusions to the contrary, 75% of respondents said e-cigarettes are at least as bad as smoking.
Only 12% said it had improved, with the rest unsure.
“this is, [Food and Drug Administration’s] “Despite acknowledging the facts, leaders have failed to honestly and adequately communicate to the American people that e-cigarettes pose dramatically lower risks, especially when compared to cigarettes,” the VTA said.
“Furthermore, the results highlight the power of education and the dangers of not presenting the science honestly when it comes to the issue of flavored e-cigarettes.”
While they may perceive e-cigarettes as more dangerous than they actually are, a majority of survey respondents expressed opposition to a total ban on e-cigarettes and other vaping products after learning about studies showing they are less harmful than cigarettes.
In Wisconsin, respondents in favor of banning flavored e-cigarettes increased from 62% to 51% opposed.
As voters became more informed, this trend continued across all party affiliations in both Michigan (55% in favor, 54% against) and Pennsylvania (58% in favor, 54% against).
“This poll finds that voters support commonsense reforms that put science above politics, rather than a total ban, to reduce harms and protect vulnerable communities like young people,” Conway said.
Still, majorities of respondents in all three states said they supported “fair and reasonable regulation” of the availability and marketing of e-cigarettes to young people who are most at risk of addiction.
The law setting a minimum age of 21 for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2019.
“Voters are more likely to agree with statements that advocate for less government intervention and present e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool for adult smokers,” the VTA said.
