From January 1, the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes will be banned. Reusable varieties will still be available. Children and teenagers use disposable items more often. In this case – it is never enough to remind you – smoking is harmful and causes, among other things: cancer and many other diseases.
They are attracted by colorful packages and a wide range of flavors – this is where many young people start smoking and become addicted to nicotine.
– In recent years, the number of young people addicted to electronic cigarettes has been higher than traditional tobacco products. Electronic cigarettes are attracting a new generation of smokers. And this is very bad, emphasizes Frank Vandenbroek, the Belgian Minister of Health.
Therefore, from Wednesday, the sale of disposable cigarettes will be banned in Belgium. It is the first country in the European Union to introduce such regulations.
– I think this is a good idea. The purpose of e-cigarettes is not to smoke recreationally, but to quit smoking, says Steven Pomerank, owner of an e-cigarette store.
It’s not just about health issues
Belgian authorities believe that electronic cigarettes have a negative effect on the health of children. Although selling them to under 18s is illegal in Belgium, teenagers have no problem buying them.
– I always buy disposable electronic cigarettes. I never buy reusable e-cigarettes because they are harder for minors to get. This ban hurts many teenagers, explains Luce de Met, a 17-year-old from Brussels.
– I don’t mind this ban because I hope to quit smoking. I’m worried about my health, says Cameron Vanheed, a 16-year-old from Brussels.
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The Belgian authorities are not only concerned about health issues. Banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes also aims to reduce the amount of hazardous waste.
– According to the European Commission, disposable e-cigarettes produce three types of waste. Of course we have plastic, but there is also e-waste such as batteries and hazardous waste, as the chemicals also include nicotine, says Minister Frank Vandenbroek.
– We throw away batteries that are still unusable. We have special waste containers. We can recycle them, but most people don’t, says Stephen Pomerank.
Generation without nicotine?
In June, the UK will follow Belgium’s lead and ban the sale of single-use items. Germany and France are working on similar rules. In Poland, work on a law banning the sale of all types of e-cigarettes and vaporizers to minors is dragging on.
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– There are several countries that have banned electronic cigarettes, which we welcome. If you haven’t already done so, you should put strict regulatory measures in place. You should make sure that children do not have access to e-cigarettes, says Dr. Rüdiger Kreh from the World Health Organization.
Every year, around 700,000 people die from smoking in the European Union. Society hopes that by 2040 it can create a generation without nicotine, that is, a generation where less than five percent of citizens smoke. This can be helped by events such as Milan, which will make smoking illegal in all public places, including on the street, from January 1.
Violation of the ban will result in a fine of up to 250 EUR or about 1000 PLN. The rules do not apply to electronic cigarettes.
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Main photo source: Reuters
