Coloured, flavoured and attractive they may be, but electronic cigarettes seem to be facing some heat in the country. Reports indicate the Central government is considering a ban on the sale of these devices after an expert panel said their safety has not been established.
Tamil Nadu will follow instructions on a ban, if any, from the Union ministry, said State tobacco control officer P. Vadivelan, indicating the State is not opposed to a ban. Gutka, pan masala, and other forms of chewing tobacco are already banned in Tamil Nadu.
E-cigarettes deliver a nicotine hit through vapour, minus the smoke and tobacco. In Chennai, the slim products seem quite easily available — a number of retail outlets sell them, and they are even available at discounted rates on shopping websites. One retailer in the city said they were quite popular.
“The brand we sell is for Rs. 950 and comes with a starter pack consisting of an e-cigarette, cartridge and power charger,” he said. Prices on sites range from around Rs. 350 to upwards of Rs. 1,000.
Though the World Health Organisation is arguing for stiff regulation of e-cigarettes and calling for a ban on their use indoors, other organisations, such as the American Heart Association, and British researchers have said the devices could potentially help people quit smoking.
However, city organisations and experts are calling for a ban. While Joseph Raj, founding member of the TN Tobacco Control Coalition, said the sale of e-cigarettes should at least be regulated until their safety could be proved, S. Cyril Alexander, State convenor, Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control, said a total ban was necessary.
E-cigarettes are not the same as patches or gums that help users quit. Their use is becoming a trend now,” he said.
Arvind Krishnamurthy, additional professor of surgical oncology at Cancer Institute, Adyar, said, “There is no real evidence to endorse the use of e-cigarettes in tobacco cessation. Nicotine is a powerful addictive substance, and while it is not carcinogenic, it does not benefit your health in any way,” he said.
E. Vidhubala, head of the Resource Centre for Tobacco Control, Cancer Institute - Adyar, said, “The problem is India cannot afford to wait for another decade for research on the product’s safety. We already have a huge tobacco disease burden. Added to this, the devices are easily available and there are no inhibitions involved in buying them and so, a ban is essential,” she said.
