E-Cigarette Ban: A Courageous and Timely Legislation for Nation's Future

Indian Government must be praised and supported widely for banning all electronic cigarette products import and sale as it took a momentous decision considering the health and well-being of its citizens.

Indian government recently took a momentous decision for the health and well-being of its people, particularly its youth, when it issued a ban on the product import and sale of electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes. //

Today, more than 40 nations worldwide have such a ban in place for various forms and kinds of E-cigarettes/Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).

All You Need to Know About E-cigarettes
E- cigarettes, a new device to counter the disease burden of tobacco smoking.

‘E-cigarettes (EC) or vape pens/vaping devices are battery-powered devices used to smoke or 'vape,' a flavored solution containing varying concentrations of nicotine, an addictive chemical found in cigarettes. ’
Read More..

These dangerously invidious and addictive products, also called vaping devices, are blatant gateway goods which lure people, especially the youth, to their use and to eventually, their severe heath and even death.

In the US, to date, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 2,290 cases and 47 deaths from the illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes. The e-cigarette epidemic in the US and Europe is resulting in a huge generation of nicotine-addicted people who are being endangered by encouragement to switch from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

There were seven million vapers in 2011 and almost 41 million in 2018, with Euromonitor estimating this figure to touch 55 million by 2021.

Flavorings Used in E-Cigarettes Can Up Your Risk for Heart Disease
Flavoring liquids such as cinnamon and menthol used in electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes are not safe and may increase the risk of heart disease when inhaled.

Claims made by the manufacturers of E-cigarettes that they are "reduced harm alternatives" are not proven by any independent scientific studies.

In fact, Eurasia Review and others have reported that a food additive and potential carcinogen, pulegone, a flavoring agent, has a high presence in electronic cigarette liquids and smokeless tobacco products.

E-Cigarettes May Help Even Die Hard Smokers Kick the Habit
Switching to vaping or e-cigarettes may help smokers to eventually quit the habit and stay that way longterm according to recent study.

Recently, in a breakthrough discovery, vitamin E acetate, a severe potential toxin found in cannabis, was identified in the lung fluids of many people sickened in the outbreak of serious vaping-related lung injuries.

The Indian Government must be congratulated and supported widely for coming up with a draft ordinance within 100 days of PM Modi assuming his office and seeking to ban all electronic cigarettes. It is indeed laudable and reassuring that the Government is genuinely concerned about the health of the youth of the country.

E-cigarette Flavorings Damage Your Heart and Blood Vessels
E-cigarette flavorings can damage blood vessels and can lead to the risk of developing heart disease. Also, these flavored tobacco products are a major driving force among youth to start experimenting.

This ban is a landmark intervention with long-term positive effect in reducing the burden of respiratory disease in this country. For too long, a false narrative has been spread that somehow e-cigarettes were 'safer' alternatives and would wean people away from cigarettes and tobacco.

This is completely wrong and baseless.

On the contrary, by falsely spreading the idea that E-cigarettes / ENDS are safe or reduced harm alternatives, a situation is being created in the minds of gullible youth across the world to swing them from being non-smokers to smokers.

With this step of a nation-wide ban, a significant victory has been stuck for the proponents of good health and healthier, better living in the country.

It is estimated that there are more than 400 different brand names available. E-liquids are now available in more than 7,000 unique flavors, including kid-friendly flavors like cherry, bubblegum, and chocolate. E- Vapor has been shown to contain lead, cadmium, nickel, formaldehyde, and hydrocarbons, among other chemicals.

Source-IANS