Vaping Popular Among Teenagers: CAP Urges Ministry to Impose Immediate Ban

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is appalled to find that the use of e-cigarettes is becoming
popular among teenagers in Malaysia. It is even more appalling that e-cigarettes are widely used by
students. Therefore, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Ministry of Health to impose an
immediate ban on e-cigarette.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated mechanisms that allow users to inhale or “vape” flavoured vapour
produced from replaceable cartridges filled with nicotine and other chemicals.

E-cigarette has been banned in many countries. For example, Singapore, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Qatar, Seychelles and Turkey have all banned the sale of this product. The
delay in banning the device in our country is incomprehensible.

The health of the children who have started vaping at a young age is our main concern. Unlike
conventional cigarette, these devices are flavoured and thus more attractive to children. This may hook
the children into becoming life-long vapers. Malaysia has an extremely high smoking prevalence of
30.9% among boys aged 13. Every day 50 teenagers below the age of 18 start smoking in Malaysia.

E-cigarettes are also being promoted as a healthy alternative to tobacco smoking. However, the label of e-
cigarette says that nicotine content in it is 3.6% from the total 10 ml liquid contents. Hence it is ironic that
some websites are promoting e-cigarettes as a solution for nicotine addiction. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) does not consider it to be legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit. According to
WHO, electronic cigarette is not a proven nicotine replacement therapy.

Besides that, according to scientists from the University of Athens, Greece, e-cigarettes cause damage to
the lung. Substances often found in e-cigarettes such as diacetyl, formaldehyde and acrolein are known to
cause lung disease. Vitamin E which is often used as a thickening and delivery agent in e-liquid has been
found in the lungs of people with severe, vaping-related damage.

E-cigarettes are also easily available. There are shops specifically selling e-cigarettes. This product is
even sold in gift shops. E-cigarettes are also widely and openly sold at pasar malams. While there is age
restriction for the sale of real cigarettes, there is no age limit for buying e-cigarettes. This could lead to
more children and youth buying and using e-cigarettes. Most of the sales are online and within easy reach
of minors.

A conversation with a seller revealed that more youths are buying e-cigarettes including women. Women
like it because it has less social stigma attached to it than the real cigarette. E-cigarettes are more socially
acceptable than traditional cigarettes because they are not associated with a lingering smell and because
they don’t have the same second-hand smoke or health risk.

Finally, in the case of normal cigarette each cigarette has to be lit, which may at times prevent one from
puffing on the second one. But in the case of e-cigarette, there are high chances of continuously smoking
till the last drop of the liquid.

There is a need to impose total ban on the sale on vaping as it may entice more youths into trying and
getting hooked to them. Hence CAP urges the Ministry of Health to impose an immediate ban on the sale
and use of e-cigarettes. Act now to save our younger generation.

(544 words)
 Adapted from:
http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/health/lifestyle/909-vaping-popular-among-teenagers-cap-
urges-ministry-to-impose-immediate-ban

The article titled Vaping Popular Among Teenagers is written by Consumers Association of
Penang (CAP). The writer’s point of view is that to impose immediate ban. The writer sounds
serious about the issue and has given several reasons to support it’s view.

First, the writer stated that e-cigarette has been banned in many countries. As an example,
Singapore, Argetina, Brazil, Cambodia and more in the statement.
In expansion, the writer specified that the wellbeing of the children who have begun vaping at a
youthful age is our fundamental concern. For instance, according to the data Malaysian
teenagers below the age of 18 and atleast 50 of them started to smoke every day. Besides, the
writer thought that e-cigarettes are moreover being advanced as a sound elective to tobacco
smoking. However, it still considered as a not nicotine replacement therapy. Another argument
provided by the writer was that e-cigarettes cause lung damage, according to specialists from
the University of Athens in Greece. Besides, the writer argued that these devices are easily to
find and get. This product casually will be available at pasar malam. Furthermore, the writer
indicated that buying e-cigarettes including women has less social stigma attached to it than the
real cigarette. The last reason was that in the case of e-cigarette, there are high chances of
continuously smoking till the last drop of the liquid.