Juul Labs reaches $438.5 million settlement in youth marketing probe
![Juul vape](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4gdZAUjHazqfGX3aJv27Nn-415-80.jpg)
Juul Labs has reached a tentative agreement to pay $438.5 million to a number of states investigating the company's sales and marketing practices, including its efforts to appeal to children and its contribution to the teenage vaping crisis, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
The probe, led by more than 30 states and territories, "found that the company appealed to young people by hiring young models, using social media to court teenagers, and giving out free samples," writes The New York Times.
"We think that this will go a long way in stemming the flow of youth vaping," said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who led negotiations for multiple parties in the probe, per The Washington Post. "We are under no illusions and cannot claim that it will stop youth vaping. ... But we have essentially taken a big chunk out of what was once a market leader."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Per the deal, Juul will now "refrain from all youth marketing, paid product placement, advertising on public transportation, funding education programs, [and] depicting anyone under 35 years old in advertisements or using cartoons in ads, among other marketing activities," Bloomberg summarizes, per a statement from Tong. The company also agreed not to advertise on billboards or use paid influencer promotions in its marketing.
Juul, meanwhile, called the settlement "a significant part of our ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the past" — though it said it was not admitting to any wrongdoing, per the Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Texas dairy worker gets bird flu from infected cow
Speed Read The virus has been spreading among cattle in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US bans final type of asbestos
Speed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Seattle Children's Hospital sues Texas over 'sham' demand for transgender medical records
Speed Read Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton subpoenaed records of any Texan who received gender-affirming care at the Washington hospital
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Afghanistan has a growing female suicide problem
Speed Read The Taliban has steadily whittled away women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan over the past 2 years, prompting a surge in depression and suicide
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US life expectancy rose in 2022 but not to pre-pandemic levels
Speed Read Life expectancy is slowly crawling back up
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Vallance diaries: Boris Johnson 'bamboozled' by Covid science
Speed Read Then PM struggled to get his head around key terms and stats, chief scientific advisor claims
By The Week UK Published
-
An increasing number of dog owners are 'vaccine hesitant' about rabies
Speed Read A new survey points to canine vaccine hesitancy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published