The Central government on Wednesday banned possession, consumption, sale, storage and manufacturing of e-cigarettes in our country. Speaking to the media, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “E-cigarettes were promoted as a way to get people out of their smoking habits, but reports have shown that many people are not using it as a weaning mechanism but are rather addicted to it.”

e-cigarette ban in India

According to statistics India has 106 million adult smokers, second only to China. As per the government records currently there are 400 brands that come in over 150 flavours available, none of which is manufactured in India. 

Doctors are worried that E-Cigarettes are the latest youth addiction. These products are a form of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) which is a hand-held vaporizer that uses a battery to stimulate smoke and give the same feel of a normal cigarette.

These E-cigarettes look almost like a normal cigarette and are also available in various shapes and colours to attract today’s generation. Also Read: How Smoking Damages The Lungs

Unlike normal cigarettes, which use tobacco leaves, these electronic cigarettes vaporise a solution using a battery. This solution mainly contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and additives to give the taste of a normal cigarette.

The E-cigarette functions by atomizing a liquid solution called e-liquid releasing as aerosol vapor to inhale and taking this vapor are called vaping.

Although it was launched in the market as a way to help people get rid of their smoking habit several reports reveal that many people are not using it as a gradual depriving mechanism but are rather getting addicted to E-cigarettes. And due its several health risks, government has finally put a ban on selling, importing, manufacturing and vaping on E-Cigarettes. 

Health Risks Of Vaping

  • Even though e-cigs don’t burn tobacco leaves containing nicotine, still the heating of the e-liquid releases harmful substances which is extremely harmful and may affect the brain and can lead to mood disorders, addiction, and lowering of impulse control.
  • Smoking is extremely risky and harmful to the lungs. There are reports of people suffering from ‘vaping lung disease’ characterized by symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Vaping e-cigs increases the risks of heart ailments. Over vaping of nicotine may cause high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, coma, and can even lead to death.
  • Several types of research have also found presence of ethylene-glycol and cancer-causing materials in the e-liquid which can ultimately be fatal and lead to bronchial or lung cancer.
  • Apart from the potential health risks which are likely to be fatal, there are reports that these devices can also explode or catch fire due to the malfunctioning of the heated battery. Also Read: How To Quit Smoking & Chewing Tobacco

Conclusion

Although the government has taken strict action in banning this harmful device, one must be conscious and put a self-ban on all tobacco products to alleviate the fatal health risks.