In line with restrictions set for the UK by the ruling Labour party, Ireland is set to ban the sale, manufacture, and import of disposable vapes under new measures proposed by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. The government is expected to approve this move, which aims to reduce access to youth as well as address environmental concerns about improper disposal of disposables, which include harmful chemicals and batteries.
Concerns have also been raised about the fact that disposable vapes contain the maximum legal nicotine level, which further led to doubts about their effectiveness in helping smokers quit. However, data have shown that actually, high nicotine alternatve products are more effective smoking cessation tools than lower nicotine counterparts, as they satiate smokers’ cravings for nicotine more effectively, and hence promote full abstinece from cigarettes.
Additional restrictions proposed for Ireland, will cover packaging , point-of-sale display, and potentially flavoured products to make vapes less appealing. The plan follows Ireland’s 2023 ban on selling vaping products to those under 18. Minister Colm Burke emphasized the gradual nature of the new restrictions and likened the need for this regulation to Ireland’s previous actions on smoking bans, addressing the rise in nicotine product use across the country. Sadly, what Burke like other politicians seems to ignore, is the fact that the rise in this kind nicotine use is actually leading to drastic drops in smoking rates.
Czech Authorities are Next in Setting Their Sights on Vape Flavours
Moreover, the local vape industry is concerned that without the now-banned ingredients, tobacco-flavored e-liquids would become unsellable. The timing of this proposal is also criticized, as a new excise tax on vapes is scheduled to be implemented this month, with further hikes planned in the coming years. This move represents a significant reversal in the government’s previous stance of promoting vapes as a tool for smokers looking to quit and industry experts warn that such a ban could drive users back to traditional cigarettes or lead to an increase in the black market activities.
Currently, about 11% of the Czech population, roughly one million people, use vaping products as a means to quit smoking and/or reduce the harm caused by tobacco use. The Chamber of Electronic Vaping (KEVAP) suggests that instead of an outright ban, the government should focus on restricting minors’ access to e-cigarettes through licensed sales channels for better oversight.
How the Dutch are circumventing local restrictions
In line with these arguments, a recent survey conducted by the Dutch vaping consumer association Acvoda has revealed that bans on online sales and flavoured vaping products in the Netherlands have been largely ineffective. ECigIntelligence reported that the regulations, implemented over the past few months, have driven most vapers in the country to bypass these restrictions by purchasing their flavored products of choice from abroad.
The study, released at the end of August 2024, showed that adult vapers in the Netherlands feel “compelled” to buy their e-cigarettes across borders. This behavior emerged after two key restrictions: the ban on online sales of vaping products, which took effect in July 2023, and the ban on all vape flavours other than tobacco, similar to the one proposed in Czech, which started on 1st January 2024.
Bans benefit only black markets
The survey highlights that these bans have not effectively curbed access to flavoured vaping products and the regulations have effectively failed to achieve their intended goals of reducing vaping and/or limiting access to flavoured products. What’s worse is that data from across the globe have indicated similar patterns of use in every country where such bans have set. A clear and tragic example is Australia, where an ever expanding criminal network supporting illicit sales of the products is booming. The real question is: why are lawmakers so intent of ignoring this information?
