Serious legislative approach needed on e-cigarettes sale - activist

The government needs to take a serious legislative approach to the sale of electronic cigarettes to young people, in line with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act which was gazetted in February, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairperson Lee Lam Thye.

He said today that the effort is necessary considering the increase in electronic cigarette use among teenagers from 2017 to 2024 as stated in a media report entitled “Percentage of Teenagers Smoking is Declining” dated June 4.

“As reported, the percentage of teenagers aged 13 to 17 who use conventional cigarettes decreased to 6.2 percent in 2022 compared to 13.8 percent in 2017.

“From the figure, there is a worrying trend for this group in the electronic cigarette category when there is an increase from 9.8 percent in 2017 to 14.9 percent in 2022,” Lee said in a statement.

He said this is a serious issue considering that electronic cigarettes contain various attractive flavours such as vanilla, coffee, and fruits which are a lure for teenagers, especially schoolchildren.

As such, Lee suggested that the sale of e-cigarette devices be limited since it is easily available and sold openly.

“Not only in certain places but it is easy to find, even in restaurants and in public places (shops). What is most important is that the sale of cigarettes openly needs to be limited. We want to give birth to a new generation free of cigarette smoke regardless if it is e-cigarettes or conventional cigarettes.

“To achieve that, we have to change the view of young people, that any smoke that is blown from the mouth through the lungs is a silent killer if it is not contained properly,” he said.

Previously, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the legislation approved by the Dewan Negara last December is expected to be enforced this month to deal with the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, notably among the young.

- Bernama

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