LONDON: The World Well being Group (WHO) on Thursday (Dec 14) urged governments to deal with e-cigarettes equally to tobacco and ban all flavours, threatening cigarette firms’ bets on smoking options.
Some researchers, campaigners and governments see e-cigarettes, or vapes, as a key instrument in decreasing the loss of life and illness attributable to smoking. However the UN company mentioned “pressing measures” have been wanted to manage them.
Citing research, it mentioned there was inadequate proof that vapes helped people who smoke stop, that they have been dangerous to well being and that they may drive nicotine habit amongst non-smokers, particularly youngsters and younger individuals.
Extra 13 to fifteen yr olds are utilizing vapes than adults in all WHO areas helped by aggressive advertising and marketing, it continued.
“Youngsters are being recruited and trapped at an early age to make use of e-cigarettes and should get hooked to nicotine,” mentioned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-Basic, urging international locations to implement strict measures.
The WHO referred to as for adjustments, together with bans on all flavouring brokers like menthol, and the applying of tobacco management measures to vapes. These embody excessive taxes and bans on use in public locations.