Why is Hong Kong banning e-cigarettes? An analysis of the confusion behind the ban

Why is Hong Kong banning e-cigarettes?: Since the birth of e-cigarettes, they have undergone several generations of changes. Just yesterday, they were thrust into the spotlight again—Hong Kong is preparing to legislate to ban e-cigarettes.

The e-cigarette industry, which was originally thriving in a gray area, has now been thrown into chaos. Overnight, all my friends began to express concern for those involved in the e-cigarette business around them.

The comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes in Hong Kong is not without reason. The debate over the dangers of e-cigarettes has been ongoing for nearly a decade worldwide. Various reports and papers have emerged. The most stable and reliable approach is, of course, to "err on the side of caution"; the fear of the unknown has finally overcome the known evils. This measure can be seen as a rational choice. The "Chinese style" of "not seeking merit, but avoiding fault" has finally influenced Hong Kong.

Ultimately, everything still boils down to interests. 　　1. The hidden dragon

Many non-smokers are puzzled as to why cigarettes, which are addictive and harmful, are still produced. This question can be easily explained without lengthy preaching. A few numbers can represent everything.

In our country, the tobacco industry has long maintained its position as the top taxpayer.

In 2017, the tobacco industry contributed 1.1 trillion yuan in taxes.

In 2017, China's military expenditure was approximately 900 billion yuan.

In 2015, profits from tobacco companies accounted for 32.34% of the total revenue of all state-owned enterprises.

In 2015, the Shanghai Tobacco Group paid 76.203 billion yuan in taxes, ranking first in Shanghai.

　　2. The "dragon-slaying youth" is a bad youth

E-cigarettes use e-liquid, utilizing electric heating to vaporize the liquid and produce vapor. Its principle is similar to the "atomization" measures used to treat respiratory diseases in children. The inventor of e-cigarettes, Han Li, was inspired by "atomization" to create this magical product.

Most people only know that "smoking is harmful to health" but do not realize that the main dangers of cigarettes come from the tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and nicotine produced during combustion. Among these, "nicotine" is the root of human addiction to tobacco, and the scientific community has found that the harm of nicotine at normal doses is very low. If nicotine can be directly ingested without tar, it can effectively eliminate the troubles of smoking. This is also the origin of "nicotine patches".

E-cigarettes contain no tar but do contain nicotine. The vapor carries nicotine to the respiratory tract, achieving the purpose of "satisfaction". Therefore, the World Health Organization defines e-cigarettes as "electronic nicotine delivery systems".

　　3. Is e-cigarette really harmful?

In this matter, we have consulted a large amount of relevant information and reached two conclusions:

1. E-cigarettes are harmful, but much less so than traditional cigarettes.

2. The main harm comes from "easily attracting young people to smoke".

For long-term smokers, e-cigarettes may be the best alternative product, effectively reducing health risks. However, for non-smokers, especially women and children, the stylish and interesting appearance of e-cigarettes may lead them to try smoking voluntarily.

　　4. Where is the e-cigarette industry headed?

The impact of e-cigarettes is not on health but on the distribution of interests. The day the distribution of interests is finalized may be the day e-cigarettes turn around.

Because the fact that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes is evident. When the income difference is negligible, it is reasonable to provide smokers with an option to help them quit smoking.

The distribution of interests stems from the improvement of laws. In terms of e-cigarette taxation, countries around the world are stuck in a deadlock, as this emerging phenomenon directly challenges tax policies.

The UK plans to impose a 57% "sin tax" on e-cigarettes, a move that has been strongly opposed by the e-cigarette association, arguing that "this forces those who have quit smoking to choose more harmful cigarette products, with no benefit to public health." The UK Sun also called this move "meaningless".

It can be said that it is precisely because of the difficulty of taxation that the e-cigarette industry has remained in a "gray area," directly increasing the exposure and difficulty of popularizing e-cigarettes, leading to today's "smoking ban" incident in Hong Kong.

　　5. Ambiguous definitions, ambiguous conclusions

So, putting aside all science and experiments, let's ask: Are e-cigarettes harmful? Our conclusion is embarrassingly ambiguous:

In some places, e-cigarettes are harmless.

In other places, e-cigarettes are as harmful as arsenic.

May the vapers in Hong Kong remember the taste of e-cigarettes when they are forced back to smoking traditional cigarettes.