e-Cigarettes

• 18 Dec 2023

For Prelims: e-Cigarettes, World Health Organization (WHO), Tobacco, Nicotine Addiction, Carcinogenic Substances.

For Mains: e-Cigarettes, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to treat e-cigarettes similarly to tobacco and ban all flavors, threatening cigarette companies' bets on smoking alternatives.

• Some researchers, campaigners and governments see e-cigarettes, or vapes, as a key tool in reducing the death and disease caused by smoking. But the WHO said "urgent measures" are needed to control them.

What are e-Cigarettes?

• e-Cigarettes are battery powered devices that work by heating a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales and exhales.
• The e-cigarette liquid typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, and other chemicals.
• There are many different types of e-cigarettes in use, also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and sometimes electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS).

What are the Concerns Raised by WHO Regarding e-Ciggeretas?

• Ineffectiveness for Smoking Cessation:
  • E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects.
  • E-cigarettes have been allowed on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people.
    • Thirty-four countries ban the sale of e-cigarettes, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products.
• Impact on Youth:
  • The recruitment and potential trapping of children and young people at an early age into using e-cigarettes, potentially leading to nicotine addiction.
  • The aggressive marketing of e-cigarettes, along with insufficient regulations in many countries, contributes to this issue.
• Rising Usage among Youth:
  • Children 13–15-years old are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all WHO regions.
  • In Canada, the rate of e-cigarette use among 16–19-year-olds has doubled between 2017–2022, and in England (the United Kingdom) the number of young users has tripled in the past three years.
• Health Risks:
  • Although the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are not fully understood, these devices generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.
  • E-cigarette use can also affect brain development, cause learning disorders in young people, and adversely affect fetal development in pregnant women.
• Nicotine Addiction and Addictive Nature:
  • E-cigarettes containing nicotine are noted to be highly addictive, posing health risks to both users and bystanders. The addictive nature of nicotine in e-cigarettes raises concerns about countering nicotine addiction, especially among young users.

Note

In India, the possession of e-cigarettes and similar devices is a violation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019.

What are the Arguments in Favour of e-Ciggrettes?

• Harm Reduction:
  • Proponents argue that e-cigarettes offer a harm reduction strategy compared to traditional tobacco products.
  • They contain nicotine but lack many of the harmful carcinogens present in conventional cigarettes. As a result, they are often seen as a safer alternative for adult smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit using nicotine altogether.
• Economic Revenue:
  • There's an economic argument suggesting that legalizing and regulating e-cigarettes could generate substantial tax revenue for governments. By taxing e-cigarettes, authorities could benefit from revenues while also controlling and monitoring their use.
• Consumer Choice:
  • Supporters argue for the importance of consumer choice and access to alternatives. They believe that adult smokers should have the option to choose less harmful nicotine delivery systems if they find traditional smoking cessation methods ineffective.

What is Nicotine?

• Nicotine is a plant alkaloid that contains nitrogen, which is found in several types of plants, including the tobacco plant and can also be produced synthetically.
• Nicotine is both a sedative and a stimulant.
• Nicotine is used as a direct substance in e-cigarettes and the content ranges up to 36 mg/mL. Although regular cigarettes too have nicotine, but it ranges between 1.2 to 1.4 mg/mL.
• Karnataka has notified nicotine as Class A poison.

What are the Government Initiatives Related to Tobacco Consumption?

• National Tobacco Control Programme
• Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules, 2023.
• National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS)
• The Union Finance Minister of India announced a 16% increase in National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) on cigarettes in the Budget 2023-24.
• The Union Health Ministry of India has announced new regulations requiring Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms to display tobacco-related health warnings during streamed content.

Way Forward

• There is a need for urgent measures to prevent the uptake of e-cigarettes, counter nicotine addiction, and promote a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, considering national circumstances.
• Advocates suggest regulating and taxing e-cigarettes similarly to other "sin goods" like cigarettes and alcohol. This approach aims to disincentivize excessive use while allowing access to a potentially less harmful alternative for smokers.