Vapers Opposed to Underage Vaping (VOTUV)
The vaping industry and community want the public to know the truth about vapor products. Schell Hammel, the owner of The Vapor Bar, started this initiative to educate the public that they are not out to influence minors, they are separate from tobacco companies, and they are the "good guys". "We have positioned ourselves in the industry to be very diligent about verifying the ages of our customers. We have also gone above and beyond regarding testing e-liquids, being at the table for advocacy and negotiating bills as well as safety. We approach laying tobacco down from a psychological, physiological and chemical perspective, as all are involved. Flavors plays a HUGE role in this switch to maintain success and to claim our reasoning is for enticing minors is unfair, incorrect and misleading." said Hammel. The Vapor Bar is dedicated to educating the public.
Hammel goes on to say, "We as vape shop owners took a huge risk. We risked our savings and family time to open these shops to do nothing other than help people. Many people have been looking for something that truly helped them get out from under the hold that tobacco had on them. After failing with over the counter quick fix or the medications with sometimes even fatal side effects, we finally found a way to help these people be successful! Because they misunderstand the use of flavors in the process, they attack our intentions. It's just not fair. Sadly, fighting us with misconceptions and fooling the public into believing we are the "bad guys" they stand to keep people hooked on tobacco. No one wins in that but those that benefit from tobacco gains."
Smokers have turned to vaping for harm reduction and in an effort to avoid inhaling 4000+ chemicals and carcinogens. There are many shop owners across the country that have incorporated minor restriction policies but they believe the misconception in the public and the many printed materials circulating the web paint a completely different picture. Vape shop owners such as The Vapor Bar, have made it their responsibility to educate legislators, and the public at large that their priority is to help people lay tobacco down and to make sure those that make that journey are successful (where flavors are extremely important), not to attract minors.
Schell states that, "We as a Vaping Industry are trying to educate the public with this mission. You can't un-ring the bell that the uneducated few have rung regarding the vaping industry trying to attract minors, but we can show the nation that what you want, we want and that we are only here to try and help people lay tobacco down. Misconceptions only help to keep them tied to that anchor." V.O.T.U.V. is an educational initiative to dis-spell many of the myths that are being spread. V.O.T.U.V. stands for Vapers Opposed to Underage Vaping, which shows a community intent on helping current smokers, not selling to minors.
Frank Blankenship of Amarillo, said, "Vapor products saved my life and the lives of many across the United States. Unfortunately, these products are under attack and continue to be misrepresented and misunderstood. One common misconception is that our products are marketed to minors. For the majority of vendors this is absolutely false. In the case of Lucky Ruckus Vape Shop we have required ID for purchase since opening our doors in 2013. This was done even though Texas did not have a law on the books requiring this. We have also implemented age verification scanners in our physical locations to further insure minors are not able to purchase from us. As a responsible vendor we were delighted to participate in the VOTUV program and we fully support this effort to clear the air in regards to sales to minors."
Schell Hammel and Frank Blankenship have been at the state capital many times representing 84 TX vapor industry owners to help educate and negotiate bills that have been introduced in the house and senate.
Schell Hammel has had 15 years experience in the medical field and husband co-owner Jeff Hammel has had 20+ years in pharmaceuticals and bio-tech. They are diligent in the industry regarding medical research, product testing and viability, and ethical practice.
To view educational video on vaping: https://youtu.be/QZ5URKYplis
To support this cause we are offering t-shirts for sale in our stores for only $10!
