Final answer:
The FDA has the authority to regulate tobacco products, including their distribution via vending machines. Restrictions have increased to prevent youth access and regulate advertising, and there's an ongoing debate about how e-cigarettes should be classified and regulated. The effectiveness of "sin taxes" as a deterrence has been limited due to the inelastic nature of tobacco demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regulation of Tobacco Products by the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indeed has the authority to regulate tobacco products. In the context of vending machines, it is important to note that over the years, there have been varying laws and regulations about the sale of tobacco products through these machines. Some of these regulations are designed to prevent youth access to tobacco, including the restriction or complete ban of tobacco vending machines, especially in locations accessible to minors.
Tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and increasingly popular among youth, e-cigarettes and vaping products. With the rise of e-cigarette use among middle and high school students, there are concerns that flavors marketed towards youth, such as "cotton candy" and "Katy Perry's cherry," may lead to an increase in nicotine addiction in this age group. In response to such concerns, some states have passed laws prohibiting minors from purchasing e-cigarettes, and the discussion about whether the FDA should regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products is ongoing.
Furthermore, the FDA and other public health agencies have been active in restricting the advertising and promotion of tobacco products to protect public health. In 2009, a law mandating color warnings on cigarette packages and advertising was passed by Congress but has faced legal challenges. Regulations in public places continue to evolve, such as those aligning with initiatives like the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, which banned junk food from schools and, by implication, could affect the presence of tobacco vending machines in such environments.
Consumer behavior towards tobacco products is complex. Despite the implementation of "sin taxes" intended to reduce consumption, the inelastic nature of tobacco demand means that consumption has not been significantly affected. Nonetheless, the revenue from these taxes has been used by states to offset health-care costs related to smoking.