France to Ban Disposable Vapes as Part of Anti-Smoking Campaign

France plans to ban disposable electronic cigarettes (vapes) as part of an anti-smoking campaign, announced French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne on a radio station RTL broadcast the day before.

"This is an important public health issue," said Borne, adding that the government is developing plans for a national tobacco control program, which she says is responsible for 75,000 deaths annually in France.

So-called "vapes" foster habits among young people that may lead to tobacco addiction, she added.

The French Prime Minister also stated that the plan does not include another increase in cigarette taxes: "But that doesn't mean we aren't vigilant about tobacco consumption."

Disposable vapes, known in France as "puff" which act as a gateway to smoking, especially trouble Borne. She is concerned about cigarettes with flavours like candy, marshmallow, and chewing gum, which resemble children's sweets and cost between 8 and 12 euros for 500 puffs, targeting teenagers.

In 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron laid out ambitious plans to combat tobacco and alcohol, promising to create more smoke-free zones. France aims to make all 20-year-olds tobacco-free by 2030.

Some European countries are also considering banning vapes.

In Belgium, they are banned in online sales.

In Ireland, national consultations on a ban are underway. Irish research shows that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to start smoking than those who do not.

In Germany, the government has banned flavoured e-cigarettes and warns that this may be just the beginning.

Australia has implemented the strictest measures, making vapes available only by prescription, reducing nicotine content, and limiting flavours.

In New Zealand, most disposable vapes are banned, and there are restrictions on advertising to children, including a ban on vape shops near schools and regulations requiring generic descriptions of flavours. These rules came into effect in August and were designed to extend the sale of disposable cigarettes to those using them as a transition to quitting smoking.