Chennai: Association of Vapers India (AVI), an organisation representing smokers and vapers in India, has issued a public appeal to the ministry of health and family welfare, requesting not to go for an outright ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and vaping in the country.
Instead, AVI has called upon the government to bring a legislation to regulate the domain of alternatives to smoking, including vaping and ENDS or e-cigarettes.
Vaping is an act of inhaling and exhaling the water vapor produced by e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine in the form of a vapour. Vaping has become common among youngsters these days as an alternative to quit smoking subsequently. However, medicos say that nicotine and other chemical compounds contained in e-cigarettes serve as an addictive. Various other health problems such as damage to liver, kidney, heart and lung have been linked to vaping.
Whereas, members of Association of Vapers India say that India is already home to 10 crore smokers, as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17 and an outright ban on e-cigarettes, would deprive them of an alternative to smoking.
"Smokers' addiction is to nicotine. As tobacco cigarettes have been the traditional way to inhale nicotine, there was no way in the past to avoid the life-threatening quality of smoke, comprising a host of deadly chemicals. Today, the situation has changed for the better with the advent of newer technologies the world over, offering healthier ways to consume nicotine - like vaping or using e-cigarettes," said Samrat Chowdhery, director of Association of Vapers India.
"An outright ban on e-cigarettes in the country, therefore, without collecting sufficient peer reviewed indigenous research data will put public health in India at greater risk, as it will wipe out a less harmful alternative for smokers like vaping and e-cigarettes," he said.
AVI has demanded the Union ministry of health and fawily Welfare to consider a legislation to regulate the domain of alternatives to smoking, including vaping and electronic nicotine delivery devices or e-cigarettes.
