SCOOP: Illicit Chinese vape use virtual pets and luxury fashion to lure American kids
THE LOWDOWN:
Waves of illegally manufactured Chinese e-cigarettes have invaded U.S. markets with products specifically engineered to attract young users and get them hooked — including virtual pets and luxury handbag-esque holsters.
RAZ, a brand linked to Chinese manufacturer Guangdong Qisitech Co. Ltd., one of the largest e-cigarette producers in the world, released their newest product, the RYL Classic by RAZ, which carries an aesthetic that mimics a Yves Saint Laurent.
Another new vape sold from China offers a built-in game featuring a virtual 8-bit pet that forces the users to frequently vape to keep the pet alive or witness your companion “die.”
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), points the finger at regulatory failure.
The war against illegal nicotine vapes is being waged in America, and one critical battlefield is our children.
Waves of illegally manufactured Chinese e-cigarettes have invaded U.S. markets with products specifically engineered to attract young users and get them hooked. These products are using new ways to attract kids to their chemicals, including gimmicks designed to elicit a toy store reaction to vaping with vape-fueled Tamagotchis and vape holsters that look like luxury handbags. This may seem like a great marketing scheme for China, but this is pure manipulation that is happening right under the FDA’s nose, which received little to no action from the Biden administration.
RAZ, a brand linked to Chinese manufacturer Guangdong Qisitech Co. Ltd., one of the largest e-cigarette producers in the world, released their newest product, the RYL Classic by RAZ, which carries an aesthetic that mimics a Yves Saint Laurent. This is clearly targeting teenage girls and the vape features a 35,000-puff count. Compared to a Juul pod, manufactured in the U.S., which only has a puff count of 200, these vapes are meant to last long and keep people addicted.
Another new vape sold from China offers a built-in game featuring a virtual 8-bit pet that forces the users to frequently vape to keep the pet alive or witness your companion “die.” This is not merely a virtual pet for kids to take care of — it is an extremely dangerous psychological tactic that makes users dependent on smoking their vape in order to keep the pet alive. This is simultaneously creating two dopamine rushes: one from the nicotine itself and another from the excitement of taking care of a virtual pet.
These products are so easy to obtain for young kids in America due to major online distributors like MiPod, making these vapes easily accessible with just a few clicks and no ID verification, no age restrictions, and no oversight. Despite being illegal under U.S. law, these vapes are shipped nationwide, disguised in packaging meant to avoid getting caught by customs. Their availability isn't limited to shady backchannels, these are mainstream platforms selling candy-colored vapes that look more like fashion accessories than dangerous nicotine devices.
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), noted there is “nothing new under the sun” with these tactics from China.
“Baseball cards were once a tool for selling cigarettes, and then bubble gum,” Chamberlain said. “It only makes sense that if the FDA neglects to approve applications for products from legitimate American manufacturers, while looking the other way as illegal vapes flood the U.S. market, unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers will find a way to make them attractive and ‘sticky’ to kids. This is on the FDA and the [Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)].”
Chamberlain added, “As reported first in the Washington Reporter, PPT's analysis of FDA user fee spending revealed hundreds of millions going to some questionable activities.”
“Far better that it be used to get potentially dangerous illegal Chinese products off the shelves and out of the reach of kids,” he said.
Roderick Law, communications director at the Functional Government Initiative (FGI), didn’t hold back in his assessment to the Reporter.
“FDA's failure under the Biden administration is hardly surprising,” Law said. “Fighting a flood of Chinese contraband products marketed to children was nearly impossible when there were so many ongoing DEI initiatives, such as CTP's $60,000 trip to Scotland discussing how ‘anti-LGBTQ+ legislation impacts tobacco control research’ and other wastefulness.”
“Thankfully, the Trump administration is changing course to end wasteful DEI and to take on China,” he added.
