DNA Micro Edit | E-cigarettes: Awareness and not ban, a long-term solution

Acting on the heels of a directive by the Maharashtra Health Department, the FDA is likely to ban sale of e-cigarettes in the state. What was once touted to be a 'healthy' alternative to smoking, has now turned into another problem for authorities. E-cigarettes, that entered the market a little over a decade ago, create an aerosol by heating a mix of liquid nicotine, propylene glycol, water, glycerine and other flavours. Various studies have drawn attention to the dangerous health impact of its smoke, trouncing on its image of being a 'healthy' alternative to cigarettes. With its easy availability online, the market has only grown across the world.

As the Maharashtra government mulls a ban on e-cigarettes, the question is, will a ban have an impact? A ban is unlikely to be effective for two reasons — one, that implementation will require a consistent effort, and two, it will only push the sale underground. But easy availability online also means that minors are particularly susceptible. Hence, focusing on awareness and discrediting the claims of the e-cigarette manufacturers using authentic data would be the key. We have to ensure youth don't fall for adverse marketing strategies.

While it will be difficult to restrict availability, a crackdown on advertising and marketing of such products is certainly possible. This is not to say that bans have not worked. Doctors at Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) point to the perceptible drop in the number of new oral cancer cases after the sale of open tobacco was banned in the state. But it will be difficult to monitor the online sale of e-cigarettes even with a ban in place.