E-Cigarettes Facts You Must Know: Is Vaping A Good Alternative To Smoking?

The Government of India, on September 18, 2019, banned e-cigarettes production, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising in the country. The decision was taken in the public interest, to ensure e-cigarettes don’t become an “epidemic” among children and young adults.

- Dr. N.Mariappan

An electronic cigarette or e-cigarette is a handheld, battery powered vaporizer without burning tobacco with behavioral aspects of smoking, including the hand-to-mouth action of smoking. A heating element is used to vaporize liquid nicotine, which the user inhales, known as “vaping”. Their sales has risen exponentially since its entry into global market in 2003. The user is referred to as “vape” and inhales an aerosol called vapor, instead of cigarette smoke.

E-cig is an electronic device that vaporizes E-liquid that contains food-grade ingredients and nicotine. For customers comfort E-cigs come in all shapes and sizes. Vaping is becoming popular among the younger population at an alarming rate. A draft ordinance bans e-cigarettes in India. First time offenders would face a prison term of up to one year and a fine of Rs. 1,00,000. Repeat offenders will face a fine of Rs. 5,00,000 and a jail term of up to five years. Storage of e-cigarettes stocks is illegal, is punishable by a fine of Rs 50,000, imprisonment up to six months or both. The Union Cabinet has given approval to ban E-cigarettes and was announced by The Honorable Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 18-09-2019. The ordinance will come into force once approved by the President of India.

Association of Vapers India (AVI), an organization representing e-cigarette users, said it is a black day for 11 crore smokers in India who have been deprived of safer options and allege it is a “draconian” step taken in haste to protect the conventional cigarette industry.