Author: moonswamp
The United Kingdom's ban on disposable vapes, effective from June 1, 2025, marks a significant shift in the nation's approach to nicotine products. Driven by concerns over escalating youth vaping rates and the environmental impact of single-use devices, this legislation is prompting users and the industry to look towards alternatives. While reusable vapes remain a legal option for adult smokers looking to quit, another product category is steadily gaining mainstream attention: oral nicotine pouches. As the UK grapples with its "smoke-free generation" ambitions under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, a crucial question arises: Are nicotine pouches a genuinely safer alternative to…
Switzerland is set to ban single-use e-cigarettes after the lower house of parliament voted in favor of the measure on Wednesday. The government must now draft a corresponding bill. Rechargeable e-cigarettes are not affected by this decision. The ban targets colorful disposable vaping devices, often with sweet flavors like gummy bears or cotton candy, which are popular among young people. Parliamentarians cited concerns over their addictive nature, potential health risks from harmful substances, and environmental pollution. One MP noted reports of children as young as 12 using these products. Single-use vapes have been available in Switzerland since 2020, with imports…
The Russian State Duma will support a complete ban on the sale of electronic devices for consuming nicotine-containing products (vapes) if such a legislative initiative comes from the government, according to Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. He emphasized that any such bill would be considered a priority. Volodin highlighted the "obvious health harm from vapes," stating that their liquids contain heavy metals and that vaping produces toxic compounds, increasing the risk of serious diseases and harming bystanders through secondhand exposure. His comments align with those of Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov, who recently expressed personal support for a "total ban" on…
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have surged in popularity over the past decade, often marketed as a modern, less harmful alternative to traditional combustible cigarettes. With their promise of fewer pollutants and a dazzling array of flavors, they've attracted millions of users worldwide, from adult smokers seeking to quit tobacco to, concerningly, young people drawn to their novelty and taste profiles. But as the vapor dissipates, a critical question remains: what exactly are we inhaling? Understanding the composition of e-liquids, the heart of the vaping experience, is crucial for anyone considering or currently using these devices. This article aims to look…
Fifteen European Union finance and economics ministers are urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urgently issue a revised Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD). They argue the current legislation is outdated and fails to address new nicotine products like vapes and nicotine pouches, citing significant health concerns, particularly the alarming rise in youth vaping rates. Studies such as the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) have highlighted a significant increase in daily smoking and vaping among 15- and 16-year-olds. Health experts warn that adolescent nicotine exposure can harm brain development and lead to addiction. The…
Sale and Supply of Single-Use Vapes Now Illegal Across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland A ban on single-use disposable e-cigarettes (vapes) has come into force across the United Kingdom today. This means shops and supermarkets are no longer permitted to stock or sell these products. However, reusable devices that can be refilled and recharged will continue to be legally sold. The ban, implemented by the new Labour government following an initial announcement by the previous administration, aims to address two primary concerns: the significant increase in e-cigarette use among young people and the substantial environmental pollution caused by disposable…
As vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, has gained significant traction over the past two decades as an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, a new environmental and safety challenge has emerged: how to properly dispose of these electronic devices. While often perceived as less harmful than combustible cigarettes from a health perspective, e-cigarettes come with their own set of considerations, not just for users' health but also for the environment once they reach the end of their life. Simply tossing old vapes, pods, or batteries into the household trash can be surprisingly hazardous, posing risks of fires in waste facilities…
A coalition of 15 European Union member states, including Germany, France, and Spain, is pressing the European Commission to urgently implement its overdue plan to tax vaping products and significantly increase minimum excise rates on cigarettes and cigars. In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, these countries called for the immediate update of tobacco tax guidelines, which were last revised in 2011. The proposal, initially due in 2022 but delayed over inflation concerns, aims to harmonize tobacco taxation across the bloc and introduce EU-wide minimum taxes for vapes. A leaked 2022 version suggested potential minimum excise hikes…
Chile has implemented a new comprehensive law, Ley 21.642, effective Tuesday, May 20th, to regulate the use, sale, and promotion of electronic cigarettes (vapes). The new regulations largely equate restrictions for vaping devices, both with and without nicotine, to those already in place for traditional tobacco products. Key provisions include a ban on vaping in enclosed public spaces such as restaurants, shopping malls, offices, elevators, and cinemas. The sale of e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years of age is now strictly prohibited, and sales are also forbidden within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions. This legislative action follows years of…
Authorities in Singapore have apprehended more than 17,900 individuals for the possession and use of e-vaporisers (vapes) between January 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced in a joint statement. This crackdown also saw the seizure of over S$41 million worth of e-vaporisers and components. During this period, HSA conducted 50 successful operations against large-scale e-vaporiser syndicates. Sixty individuals, aged 17 to 43, were prosecuted for selling these illicit products. Notably, Ivan Sin Poh Meng and Toh Wee Leong, part of a syndicate involving over S$5 million in vapes, received the highest…