Dutch ban vaping for under 18s, say more harmful than thought (updated)
11/12/2015 16:22
(Adds quote, details)
THE HAGUE, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Electronic cigarettes and
water pipes will be banned in the Netherlands for children under
18 from next year, the government said, after finding that the
devices were more damaging to health than expected.
E-cigarettes, which electrically vapourise a
nicotine-infused solution, are defended by their proponents as a
healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes, but the
government said its studies showed they were still harmful.
"With this ban I want to protect young people from the
damage e-cigarettes cause," said health state secretary Martin
Van Rijn in a statement. "I also want to avoid young people
thinking that these e-cigarettes in hip colours are normal."
The government said that studies carried out by the Dutch
food safety and public health institutes had shown that
e-cigarettes were "more harmful than expected" to users' health.
A recent U.S. study showed that teens and young adults who
"vape" are more likely to graduate to smoking combustible
cigarettes than those who do not. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N11E2M1
The market for e-cigarettes is growing fast around the world
as conventional smoking declines in response to massive public
health campaigns and high sin taxes imposed on the practice.
Tobacco companies, including BAT BATS.L , Philip Morris
PM.N , Imperial Tobacco IMT.L and Japan Tobacco 2914.T , are
all jostling for position in the emerging vaping market, which
could top $7 billion in size this year. ID:nL3N0WL4XA
The Netherlands will ban advertising of the devices when the
new law comes into force in May 2016. E-cigarettes will be
subject to new safety requirements and their packaging will have
to carry health warnings.
The Netherlands, known for its relaxed attitude towards the
consumption of soft drugs, is one of few countries left in
Europe where it is still permitted to smoke indoors in certain
bars.
(Reporting By Anthony Deutsch, writing by Thomas Escritt,
editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
((Thomas.Escritt@thomsonreuters.com; +31 20 5045006; Reuters
Messaging: thomas.escritt.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))
Keywords: DUTCH ECIGARETTES/