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Keystone council OKs first reading of flavored-vape ban; start date moved to Jan. 1, 2026 amid finance and business concerns
Summary
On first reading the council advanced Ordinance 2025-11 to prohibit sale of flavored vape products, amend tobacco licensing penalties, and add a local unlawful-sale offense; council amended the start date for the flavored-vape ban to Jan. 1, 2026 to align with neighboring towns.
The Keystone Town Council on first reading approved Ordinance 2025-11, amending local tobacco licensing to prohibit sale of flavored vape products, adding coupon restrictions and presumptive licensing penalties for unlawful sales to minors. The council scheduled the ordinance for public hearing and second reading and amended the flavored-vape ban start date to Jan. 1, 2026.
Town staff and the town attorney described the ordinance’s components: the licensing/regulatory pieces are planned to take effect Nov. 1, 2025 (per staff), while the municipal offense for unlawful sales to persons under 21 would become effective 30 days after publication. Council members emphasized enforcement on sales to minors while debating the timing and economic consequences of the flavor ban.
In discussion, the town manager presented preliminary fiscal estimates and business feedback. He said that in one scenario shifting the start date could produce a modest shortfall to a program supported by nicotine-tax revenue—"about $40,000" in one example—while other council members reported small retailers forecasting larger, business-specific sales impacts. Council members debated narrow exceptions (for mint/menthol), with the town attorney warning that selective carve-outs could raise legal risk; a proposed exception for mint products failed in a roll-call vote.
The council ultimately voted to approve first reading of the ordinance and to amend the start date for the flavored-vape ban to Jan. 1, 2026; the clerk recorded the motion as approved on first reading. The council directed staff to schedule the public hearing and second reading and to continue analysis of enforcement and fiscal impacts.
Why it matters: The measure narrows flavored-vape retail availability inside town limits, reflecting council public-health priorities while also prompting local debate about small-business impacts and county funding offsets.
