PARIS: France is poised to take a significant step in safeguarding its environment and the health of its citizens by banning disposable e-cigarettes, locally referred to as “puffs.”
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne recently announced this decision as part of a comprehensive anti-smoking plan developed by the government. This ban is set to take effect by the end of the year, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s efforts to combat the detrimental effects of disposable e-cigarettes.
Several European nations, including Germany, Belgium, and Ireland, have already implemented or announced similar bans on these disposable vaping devices. Even the United Kingdom is reportedly contemplating such a measure. These actions underscore the growing global consensus on the need to address the concerns surrounding disposable e-cigarettes.
Disposable vapes, available over the counter at tobacconists in France, have gained popularity due to their affordability, costing approximately €9 (£7.70), which is less than a pack of traditional cigarettes. These products claim to provide around 600 puffs, roughly equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes. However, despite their appeal to adult smokers seeking alternatives to traditional cigarettes, disposable e-cigarettes have faced severe criticism for their impact on young people and the environment.
France’s National Academy of Medicine has characterized disposable e-cigarettes as a “particularly sly trap for children and adolescents.” Prime Minister Borne echoed these concerns, emphasizing how they instil harmful habits in children and potentially lead them to tobacco use.
Manufacturers, many of whom are based in China, have been accused of deliberately targeting teenagers through colourful designs and a wide array of appealing flavours reminiscent of a candy shop. Flavours such as marshmallows, chocolate, hazelnut, watermelon, and ice candy have contributed to the allure of disposable e-cigarettes among young consumers. According to the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), a startling 13% of 13-16-year-olds in France have experimented with these products, often starting as early as 11 or 12 years old.
Loïc Josseran, president of ACT, hailed the impending ban as a significant triumph for civil society, asserting that disposable e-cigarettes had become a gateway to smoking for young individuals. He lamented the tobacco industry’s tactics, saying, “It’s become an epidemic. It is terrible how the tobacco industry has set out to hook children.”
Sam, a 16-year-old student in Paris, shared his experience of taking up disposable e-cigarettes two years ago, influenced by trends on social media platforms like TikTok. He found them visually appealing and believed they were less harmful than tobacco. Sam favoured flavours like iced grape and apricot but expressed his intent to switch to regular vapes if the ban materializes. Despite regulations prohibiting the sale of these products to those under 18, Sam noted that age restrictions were often easily circumvented, with tobacconists often neglecting to ask for age verification.
In addition to concerns related to youth addiction, environmental damage has emerged as another pressing issue associated with disposable e-cigarettes. In the UK, a study conducted last year by the environmental organization Material Focus revealed that over one million devices were discarded every week, exacerbating the problem of electronic waste.
French doctors and environmentalists have decried disposable e-cigarettes as an environmental plague. These devices are predominantly composed of non-recyclable plastic, containing a non-removable battery with approximately 0.15 grams of lithium, in addition to nicotine salts and traces of heavy metals.
