Vaping should be banned in this country next year.
Vaping has been on the rise in recent years, despite the obvious negative effect on health. Many smokers started using vapes instead of cigarettes, and vaping is becoming increasingly popular among young people as well. That is why it is not unusual to smell watermelon or menthol while walking down the street. Vaping has become so popular that it is practically impossible not to notice it.
But it could soon become a thing of the past - at least in one of the European countries. A few days ago, the French Parliament unanimously voted to ban the use of e-cigarettes in a bill that could be implemented as early as September 2024. The bill will have to be approved by the French Senate and the European Commission before it enters into force. But due to extensive health and environmental campaigns, it is quite likely that vaping will soon be banned in France.
Some time ago, France announced ambitious plans to ban smoking in public places throughout the country. At the same time, the price of cigarettes is also expected to rise. A vape in France costs about €9, which is cheaper than a pack of 20 cigarettes. Because of the price, the use of bright colors and flavors, the public assumes that vape manufacturers are targeting young people.
Activists of the "Alliance against Tobacco" claim that 15 percent of French people between the ages of 13 and 16 have used a vape at least once. Most of them even claim to have tried it at the age of 11 or 12. Although vaping is considered to be less harmful than smoking, the main truth is that it has not been on the market long enough to know all its negative effects.
Vaping and environmental impact
Human health is not the only concern, however – according to the BBC, a group of French doctors writing to Le Monde in early 2023 described their use as an “environmental plague”. Material Focus, a UK-based environmental organization, found that more than a million devices are thrown away every week. In addition, e-cigarettes are made of plastic and contain lithium batteries and traces of heavy metals.
New Zealand and Australia have already introduced restrictions such as lower nicotine levels and restricting sales near schools. European countries are considering similar bans.
