India's Vaping Ban Has Not Stopped Sales
Eight months after India’s vaping ban took effect, people have not stopped using e-cigarettes. Although official and premium brands such as Juul are no longer available, consumers are buying cheap, low-quality products from local tobacco shops. Last summe
India's vaping ban has been in effect for eight months, yet people have not stopped using e-cigarettes. Although there are no longer official and premium brands like Juul, people are purchasing cheap and low-quality products from local tobacco shops. <\/div>
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Last summer, the federal health ministry prepared to review the "2019 E-Cigarette Prohibition Regulations" and passed a bill in January 2020 in the Lok Sabha to replace the regulations. The latter formally prohibits the production, trade, transport, storage, and advertising of e-cigarettes across India. Violators now face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 100,000 rupees for first offenses, and for subsequent offenses, a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 rupees.<\/div>
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Meanwhile, based on countless arguments from global anti-smoking and public health experts, local doctors point out that the government should conduct more research before banning the use of the product. "There is available data from the UK regarding e-cigarettes as cessation devices, so research in India should be conducted by the government and health organizations," said Dr. Bharat Gopal, director of the National Chest Center and senior pulmonologist in Delhi.<\/div>
To make matters worse, the latest reports from India indicate that since the ban took effect, people can still purchase vaping products from any Paan (local tobacco) shop or online. The only difference is that official and high-quality brands are no longer available, leading young vapers to resort to cheap and low-quality versions.<\/div>
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A 23-year-old seller told Business Insider that he buys stock from Mumbai and sells it on Instagram, shipping it to customers via India Post. "I've been in this business for three years. The only change due to the ban is that branded products have exited the market. I can still sell the products I usually buy from the black market in Mumbai."<\/div>
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The ban has pushed consumers into the black market.<\/div>
In line with arguments from several public health experts, who insist that banning products will only drive people to the black market, Samrat Chowdhery from the Vapers India Association stated that all countries that have banned e-cigarettes, including Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand, have seen a thriving black market.<\/div>
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"With all other forms of nicotine available, it is difficult to enforce regulations. Formal participants in the production of e-cigarettes are exiting the market. Once the black market industry gains a foothold, it becomes impossible to control. The government has missed a good opportunity to regulate these products," he said.<\/div>
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