FRANCE PLANS DISPOSABLE VAPE BAN TO HELP TEENAGERS AVOID SMOKING

Mon 04 September 2023:

As part of a national strategy to eradicate smoking, France will outlaw disposable vapes, the prime minister announced on Sunday.

The government would “soon present a new national plan to fight against smoking with, in particular, the prohibition of disposable electronic cigarettes, the famous “puffs” which give bad habits to young people,” according to Elisabeth Borne, a spokesperson for the broadcaster RTL.

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The French government is finalizing its budget for 2024 with a larger strategy to cut smoking, which Borne claimed was responsible for 75,000 deaths annually in the country.

She said the plan did not include another tax rise on cigarettes, adding: “But that does not mean we are not vigilant about tobacco consumption.”

Her main concern is disposable vapes, known as “puffs” in France, which she says are a gateway to smoking.

She is worried that the cigarettes with flavours such as ice candy, marshmallow and bubblegum reminiscent of childhood sweets and priced at €8 (£6.85) to €12 for 500 “puffs” are targeting teenagers.

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This year France’s then health minister said that although Emmanuel Macron’s government had no majority in parliament, ministers would “work with lawmakers” to reach a deal on a ban.

François Braun said the law could be enacted “before the end of this year”.

Toughest response

Several European countries are also looking at banning them. Online sales are banned in Belgium and a national consultation on prohibition is under way in Ireland. In Germany the government has banned flavoured e-cigarettes, with the drugs tsar warning this can only be a start.

Australia has taken the toughest response, making vapes prescription only, reducing their nicotine content and restricting flavours.

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In New Zealand, similar steps have been taken with a ban on most disposable vapes and curbs on marketing to children, including a prohibition on vape shops near schools and rules that require generic flavouring descriptions. The rules, which came into effect in August, were designed to continue the sale of disposable cigarettes for those who use them as a transition to giving up smoking.

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Irish research shows that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are up to five times more likely to start smoking compared with those who do not.

According to data released last year, New Zealand’s smoking prevalence had dropped to 8% – one of the lowest in the world – but the rise in daily vape users was larger than the drop in daily smokers.

The number of year 10 students – about 14 years old – in New Zealand who vaped daily had tripled, from 3.1% in 2019 to 9.6% in 2021.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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