Long gone are the days of wine being served in French school cafeterias, only at a hand’s reach for developing children to consume freely. Nowadays, a new public health concern is on the mind of legislators in France and all around the world.
Colloquially called “puffs” in France, disposable electronic cigarettes have been pushed and lauded by Big Tobacco for being an alternative to traditional cigarettes, whose harmfulness has been proven for decades.
Although those “puffs” do not contain any tobacco, they come with varying amounts of nicotine (up to 5% according to the Académie Nationale de Médecine), therefore, they still pose a risk for addiction.
Vapes have proven to be more efficient as a smoking cessation aid than other nicotine substitutes but are only recommended for cigarette quitters as they are a gateway into conventional tobacco smoking for minors especially. Not only do the toxic chemicals composing the e-liquid harm the “vaper”, but they also affect bystanders. Electronic cigarettes are also a cause of physical injuries and burns due to malfunctions, according to the World Health Organization.
Among the youth, tobacco is falling out of fashion, with fewer and fewer first-time smokers in middle and high school. However, a most deceitful successor has taken its place. With its colorful packaging, delicious-looking and smelling candy-like flavors – strawberry, mango, even unicorn shake – it is hard to believe the marketing of vapes does not target children and teenagers. Though its sale to minors is illegal, disposable electronic cigarettes are especially popular with them as social media teems with advertisement, soft-core endorsement and ways to get their fruit-flavored hits.
In France, the word “puff” has been banned on platforms like Tiktok. With ways around this censorship always being found, it is imperative to educate and inform the youth on the dangers they might expose themselves to.
Around the world, legislation is being put into place to dissuade actual and future “vapers” such as heavier taxation on those goods, a stripping down of packaging and even complete prohibition is considered.
Yafatou Imane Touré
Sources
Académie Nationale de Médecine, https://www.academie-medecine.fr/la-puff-nouvelle-cigarette-electronique-jetable-un-piege-pour-les-enfants-et-les-adolescents/.
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/tobacco-e-cigarettes.