A new 2025 statewide survey of 424 registered South Carolina voters reveals deep concern about the rise of flavored vapes and their impact on child safety and health.
With a ±4.8% margin of error at a 95% confidence level, the poll finds:
• 75% of voters are worried about youth vaping.
• 73% are alarmed by the potential presence of harmful substances like fentanyl in disposable vapes.
This concern is underscored by state data showing nearly 50% of South Carolina high school students have used disposable vapes (DAODAS).
As a result, voters strongly support legislative action:
• 78% favor increased state oversight and enforcement of federal vaping laws.
• 82% support penalties for selling unregistered or illegal vape products.
The Problem: Illegal, Youth-Targeted VapesDespite being illegal under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, flavored disposable vapes—manufactured in Shenzhen, China—continue to flood the market. These products are deliberately designed to appeal to children, with flavors like cotton candy and bubble gum, and disguised as everyday items such as USB drives, cellphones, and highlighters to evade detection.
Social media platforms, including TikTok, aggressively market these products to underage users, fueling an alarming 2,617% surge in high school flavored vape use since 2019 (National Youth Tobacco Survey).
Flavored Vape Disguised as a Highlighter
The Role of Vape Shops
While Chinese manufacturers bear responsibility, many local vape shops also exploit this illicit market, prioritizing profits over public health. In addition to flavored vapes, many sell synthetic marijuana, Kratom, Galaxy Gas, and other harmful substances, taking advantage of regulatory loopholes.
Voters have taken notice:
• 62.5% have a negative view of vape shops, while only 16.5% view them positively.
South Carolina lawmakers have a clear mandate: act now to crack down on illegal vapes, protect our children, and hold bad actors accountable.
Thankfully, bipartisan leaders in both the South Carolina House and Senate have taken action, introducing S.287 and H.3728 last month. These bills would establish a registry of legal vaping products, giving retailers clear guidance on what can and cannot be sold—helping to keep illicit flavored vapes out of the hands of our children.
So far, ten states have enacted similar laws, with more than twenty others considering action. Now is the time for South Carolina to follow suit and protect our kids.
