Parents in Hong Kong Want E-Cigarettes Banned

In another example of the negative impact that misinformation about e-cigarettes is having on public health, most parents in Hong Kong think that e-cigarettes will lure their children into smoking and want the devices banned.

Diane Caruana

July 11, 2018

Data by the UK Office for National Statistics confirm that the current panic about e-cigarettes addicting a whole new generation to nicotine and tobacco, is unfounded.

The Committee on Home-School Co-operation and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations distributed questions to parents of students in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools on the issues at the end of June and the beginning of this month. The survey included the participation of 3,374 parents, of whom 82% called for the ban in the wake of a proposal to amend the current Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to regulate e-cigarettes and herbal smoking products.

Of the respondents, 69% think that the products are attractive to youngsters, 67% worried that their children would be enticed to start vaping, while 60% are afraid that the devices will lure their children to smoke real cigarettes.

In the meantime, data by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirm that the current panic about e-cigarettes addicting a whole new generation to nicotine and tobacco is unfounded. Infact figures from different ends of the globe keep indicating that both smoking and vaping are on the decline.

Thanks to e-cigarettes, both smoking and vaping rates are on the decrease

The ONS study indicates a further dip in smoking rates and vaping rates amongst 18 to 24-year-olds. In 2017, 17.8% of people aged between 18 and 24 said that they smoked, in comparison to 19.3% in 2016 and a staggering 25.7% in 2011. With regards to vaping rates within the same age group, 5.5% of people use electronic cigarettes, a slight dip from 2016 when it stood at 5.6%.

Public Health England updated the organization’s 2015 vaping report, confirming that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

However, a counselor named Leung on the University of Hong Kong Youth Quitline said that more youngsters now use e-cigarettes. One or two out of 10 youngsters who contacted the Quitline used e-cigarettes four years ago, he added, but now it was about four or five out of every 10. Sadly, these figures tend to be taken out of context. If an increase in e-cigarette use equates to a decrease in smoking, then it is a win for public health.

If people replace smoking with vaping, it is still a win for public health

Earlier this year, Public Health England released findings from an e-cigarette review that was conducted by leading independent tobacco experts, and updated the organization’s 2015 vaping report, confirming that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

Read Further: The Standard