Referendum 310 Fallout: Vape Shops Warn of Closures, Job Losses Across Denver
Denver businesses are bracing for a financial hit after voters overwhelmingly upheld Referendum 310, keeping in place the city’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products. More than 70% of voters supported the measure, which city leaders and public health advocates say is aimed at reducing youth nicotine use and protecting vulnerable communities. But for many small retail and vape shop owners, the outcome feels like a gut punch. They argue the ban targets legal adult products that are already age-restricted and will push customers — and tax dollars — to nearby cities that don’t have the same rules.
One convenience store owner in Denver said flavored products make up close to 30% of his sales and that there’s no simple way to replace that revenue. He estimates the ban could force around 100 vape shops in the city to close and eliminate at least 1,000 jobs tied to the industry. He also raised concerns about a projected loss of up to $13 million a year in tax revenue from Proposition EE funds, which help pay for early childhood education. With the city already facing a large budget shortfall, some business owners are asking how Denver plans to make up that money.
City officials, however, say those numbers aren’t confirmed. They point out that the $13 million figure comes from an industry group, not Denver’s finance department. Councilmember Darrell Watson, who represents District 9 and supported the flavored tobacco ban, said other cities that have adopted similar policies have not seen the kind of dramatic tax losses the industry predicts. He called the vote a win for public health and noted that flavored and menthol products have had a disproportionate impact on communities of color, particularly Black residents. From his perspective, protecting long-term health outweighed the short-term business concerns.
Enforcement of the ban is expected to begin next year, once election results are certified and the city finalizes its rollout plan. In the meantime, officials are encouraging affected business owners to look into city programs for financial assistance through Denver’s Small Business and Entrepreneurs resources. Still, for many shops that leaned heavily on flavored vape and tobacco sales, the question remains whether they can survive long enough to adapt — or whether those customers, and their dollars, will simply head to Aurora, Lakewood, or unincorporated areas instead.
