Vaping devices should also be subject to bans

On August 26, the World Health Organization released a report calling for e-cigarettes to be regulated in the same way as tobacco, including indoor use bans and a prohibition on sales to minors. The WHO recommended that e-cigarettes should not be promoted to non-smokers or young people; that potential harm to users and non-users should be minimized as much as possible; that unsubstantiated health benefit claims about e-cigarettes should be prohibited; and that the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry should not be allowed to influence existing tobacco control efforts.

　　E-cigarettes look much like conventional cigarettes and consist of a device and e-liquid. They can produce “smoke,” emit a “glow,” and offer a taste similar to cigarettes, with even more flavor options than regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes were originally introduced as a smoking cessation aid and an alternative to cigarettes. However, growing evidence shows that e-cigarettes are not a “magic tool” for quitting smoking, but addictive chemical products. Some studies have shown that pregnant women and women of childbearing age who use e-cigarettes may adversely affect fetal brain development; secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes may also pose health risks to people nearby. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that, compared with conventional cigarettes, teenagers may be more tempted to try the flavors of e-cigarettes, making them more likely than traditional cigarettes to lure young people into smoking. In countries such as Australia, the sale of e-cigarettes is illegal. In public places in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and other U.S. cities, vaping is banned.

　　What is worrying is that many domestic cigarette manufacturers are developing the e-cigarette market, and China’s domestic e-cigarette market may be on the verge of explosive growth, with many opportunities ahead. China still has no laws or regulations specifically governing e-cigarettes. If e-cigarettes are not regulated in the same way as tobacco, they could become as widespread as conventional cigarettes. Once a raw egg is boiled, it cannot be returned to its original state; the same is true of the harm caused by smoking. At a time when tobacco control has yet to make significant progress, we must not allow e-cigarettes to add insult to injury.