The Ministry withdraws its idea
Disposable e-cigarettes attract young people with their attractive form and various flavors, which often resemble sweets or sweet drinks. Products of this type are offered in packaging associated with products for children and young people, which additionally encourages young consumers. As a result, devices of this type have become almost as common among teenagers as smartphones or wireless headphones. In recent months, the Ministry of Health has given us hope for a change in regulations that could certainly help fight this plague.
In recent years, we have become accustomed to the sight of young people inhaling e-cigarettes on the street. According to the latest data, sales of disposable e-cigarettes in our country will reach a staggering level of about 100 million units per year in 2023. What is most disturbing, the greatest increase in the popularity of such disposables has been observed among children and adolescents. Such huge numbers generate huge profits for distributors of such products, but they pose a serious health risk to young users.
E-cigarettes: The Illusory Age Verification
Experts, including the WHO and doctors, have warned of the negative health effects of disposable e-cigarettes among young people. They contain harmful substances that are not properly tested or controlled. Regular use of disposables can lead to serious health problems in the future.
Despite existing bans on the sale of nicotine products to minors, reality shows that young people have no problems buying disposable e-cigarettes. Studies show that almost half of smoking teenagers declare no difficulty in acquiring these devices, both in brick-and-mortar stores and online. Age verification is often illusory, which means that products end up in the hands of children.
Many experts believe that the only effective solution is a complete ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. Such regulations are already being introduced in other countries, such as Australia and China, which successfully limit the availability of these products on their markets. Poland should also take steps in this direction to protect the health of its youngest citizens.
The Ministry withdraws its idea
At the beginning of 2023, the Ministry of Health announced a plan to introduce a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. It would seem that representatives of the ministry headed by Izabela Leszczyna are fully aware of the seriousness of the problem, which is the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people. However, despite promises, in recent days the ministry has withdrawn from these plans, not implementing the promised regulations.
Instead, the ministry has proposed a ban on the sale of nicotine-free e-cigarettes to people under 18. The proposed changes, however, will not solve the problem, because real control over sales will remain insufficient. Young people will still be able to easily obtain these products, whether in brick-and-mortar stores or online. In short, such superficial steps will have no real impact on reducing the number of young e-smokers.
