Author: Nick Schager

A flavored vape ban refers to legislation prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine products with characterizing flavors other than tobacco, a measure recently implemented in Denver to reduce youth usage. As the new year began, this voter-approved restriction has immediately altered the retail landscape, sending ripple effects across city lines. The Ripple Effect: Customers Crossing City Lines Just days after the ban took effect, vape shops in neighboring Aurora are already witnessing a shift. Gordon McMillon, owner of Tokerz Head Shop located mere blocks from the Denver border, noted a trickle of new customers seeking products no longer available…

Individuals in Vietnam who use e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products will face fines ranging from VND3 million to VND5 million (approximately US$114–$190) starting December 31, under the newly issued Government Decree No. 371. In addition to the monetary penalty, violators will be required to destroy the prohibited products. The decree also targets property owners and managers, imposing fines of VND5 million to VND10 million on individuals who allow the use of these devices on their premises. For organizations, these penalties are doubled. This regulatory tightening precedes a comprehensive ban agreed upon by Vietnam's National Assembly in November, which will prohibit…

The Republic of Maldives has enacted a landmark generational smoking ban, making it illegal for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, to legally purchase or use tobacco products. The ban, which took effect last Saturday, makes the Maldives the first country to enforce such a nationwide policy, which reportedly also applies to visitors. This historic measure is part of President Mohamed Muizzu's broader anti-smoking campaign, driven by high rates of tobacco-related illness and death in the nation. As of 2021, over a quarter of the Maldivian adult population used tobacco, with rates nearly double for teens aged 13-15.…

The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a draft for a new anti-tobacco law that will significantly tighten restrictions on tobacco and e-cigarette consumption in Spain. Among the most notable changes is the prohibition of smoking and vaping on the outdoor terraces of hospitality venues, at public swimming pools, bus stops, and on the grounds of high schools and university campuses. Commercial vehicles will also be considered smoke-free workplaces under the new rules. The legislation, which now heads to parliament for further debate and approval, legally equates the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) with conventional tobacco, subjecting them to the…

A significant and complex new vape ban, Senate Bill 2024, has taken effect in Texas as of Monday, September 1st. The law, which largely flew under the radar amid more publicized legislative battles over hemp, introduces sweeping restrictions on the sale, marketing, and design of e-cigarette products, including a complete ban on vapes containing THC and other specific substances. Penned by State Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in June, SB 2024 creates a new regulatory landscape for the state's thousands of vape and smoke shops. It's crucial to note that while the law…

Travelers flying to or even transiting through Singapore must be aware of a dramatic escalation in the country's anti-vaping laws, with severe new penalties taking effect on September 1, 2025. While vaping has been banned since 2018, the government is now treating the issue as a drug enforcement priority, prompted by a surge in vapes laced with the anesthetic etomidate, locally known as "K-pods." Under the new rules, etomidate has been reclassified as a Class C drug, placing vapes containing it on par with substances like cocaine. Importers of these "K-pods" risk 3–20 years in prison plus 5–15 cane strokes,…

Despite a comprehensive ban on the commercialization, importation, and advertising of e-cigarettes in place since 2011, Argentina is facing an alarming increase in vape use among adolescents. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP) are warning that these devices pose a serious public health risk and threaten to "re-normalize" smoking habits among youth. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 7.1% of Argentine students aged 13-15 use e-cigarettes. In the city of Buenos Aires, a 2023 survey found this figure to be 8%. Furthermore, it's estimated that one in four 12- and 13-year-olds has tried…

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has intensified its crackdown on distributors of unregulated vapes, a move that significantly challenges the multi-billion dollar industry and could benefit major tobacco companies. In a key action, the USPS has barred New York-based distributor Demand Vape from using its mailing services. This decision came after the New York City Law Department provided evidence that the company was shipping vapes that lacked required U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization and violated local flavor bans. While Demand Vape contests the revocation, the action highlights the increasing pressure on an industry operating in what some call…

Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok has called on the Malaysian Health Ministry to table amendments to the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2023 (Act 852) to enforce a complete ban on vapes and electronic cigarettes this year. Citing growing public health concerns, Kok urged the government to emulate countries like Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, and Argentina, which have implemented outright prohibitions. Kok dismissed the idea that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking as a "dangerous misconception," highlighting its links to lung disease, respiratory damage, and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. She pointed to alarming…

The New Zealand government is revoking a 2023 regulation that required all vaping devices to have removable batteries. The change, effective September 1st, was made to resolve a court challenge brought by Mason Corporation Limited, according to Associate Health Minister Casey Costello. She stated this was the "best way to resolve the case." Costello added that the revocation is not expected to negatively impact smoking or vaping rates, noting that the government has already successfully banned disposable vapes, which were the products most popular with young people. The removable battery rule was originally introduced by the previous Labour government.