• Thousands of Made in China E-Cigarettes on route to Delhi seized in Noida 
• Mothers Against Vaping underscores the critical importance of increased seizures and heightened awareness about the harmful effects of these devices among children and the youth
•  Advocates anti-vaping campaigns using influencers to check the spread of misinformation, as well as bring about a shift in attitude of children on vaping

Mothers Against Vaping, a united front of proactive and concerned mothers who are raising their voice against the escalating vaping crisis among our children and the youth, lauded the government’s efforts to restrict the spread of New-Age Gateway Devices like E-Cigarettes and Vapes. Following a recent successful seizure of hundreds of Chinese-made E-Cigarettes destined for the capital city of Delhi, Mothers Against Vaping emphasized on the critical need for sustained heightened vigilance to safeguard our children and youth.

Recently, the Noida Police have arrested smugglers and seized a significant quantity of Made in China E-Cigarettes which were sourced from Nepal. The estimated black-market value of these confiscated e-cigarettes which are banned in India was nearly Rs. 50 lakhs. The illicit consignment was destined for sale in Rohini, Delhi and the surrounding areas. These e-cigarettes were being sold at high prices in bars, restaurants and to a younger customer base in the city. It needs to be underscored that this is not a one-off incident, in November, 2023 a large consignment of e-cigarettes coming from China, with a worth of Rs. 50 Lakhs was caught on the Khutar-Puranpur highway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, a seizure at Chennai airport in November, 2023 involved the confiscation of 11.700 e-cigarettes coming from China and valued at Rs. 3.5 crores.

Speaking on the issue, Dr. Rajesh Gupta – Additional Director, Pulmonology & Critical Care, Fortis Healthcare, Noida, said, “The easy accessibility and glamorization of these New-Age Gateway Devices are luring our youngsters into the trap of addictive behaviours. The actions taken by the police and the government are praiseworthy in terms of seizures and increased vigilance but at the same time, more needs to be done. While continued seizures are essential, there is an equally crucial need to raise awareness and emphasize the detrimental health effects of vaping.”

“Manufacturers of these devices are specifically targeting our youth, making it imperative to spread awareness that vaping is not cool and extremely harmful. This message needs to permeate popular culture and one effective way to achieve this is by involving youth icons, celebrities and influencers as the faces of an anti-vaping movement. These influential figures to whom adolescents feel a strong connection should actively promote the message that vaping is not cool and highlight its harmful effects.”

According to various news sources, the Australian government as part of its crackdown on Vaping that was launched on the first of January, 2024, is enlisting local influencers to create and share anti-vaping and other new age gateway devices content on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. This initiative termed the “influencer-led youth vaping campaign,” targets individuals aged 14 to 20 and aims to counter the influence of big tobacco-company-backed “vapefluencers”. The goal is to combat misinformation on social media surrounding vaping and other new age gateway devices, sparking conversations with the next generation about the harms of vaping, nicotine addiction and the perils from other new age gateway devices.

In February 2024, the World Health Organization urged countries in the South-East Asian Region to escalate their efforts in controlling the use of E-Cigarettes and other new age gateway devices, noting a concerning rise in their usage, particularly among children and young individuals. According to WHO, the region is home to 280 million smokeless tobacco users, constituting nearly 77% of the global smokeless tobacco user population.

Dr. Bhavna Barmi, Clinical Psychologist, Founder, Happiness Studio said, “To curb the usage of these harmful new-age devices, efforts should address both the demand and supply sides. Seizures target the supply side, but the government should also explore penalties for the usage of these New-Age Gateway Devices. Implementing penalties under the PECA law for vaping and use of E-Cigarettes can instill fear among users and their parents, contributing to a reduction in the usage of these devices.”

The Indian government has been proactive in banning e-cigarettes and has taken decisive action by prohibiting e-cigarettes and similar new-age gateway devices through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019. This comprehensive act covers various activities, like banning consumption to production, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes, making them illegal in the country. The government’s stand of promulgating the act is aimed at protecting the health of the youth and children, recognizing their exposure and vulnerability to the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and other new-age electronic gateway devices.