The Czech Ministry of Health is drafting a new decree to ban sweet flavours in electronic cigarettes and enforce strict requirements for their appearance. This initiative stems from the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people, despite the legal prohibition of their sale to individuals under 18.
The proposed decree aims to drastically limit the flavour options for e-cigarettes, permitting only tobacco flavours in the future. Matyáš Fošum, Director of the Department of Public Health Protection at the Ministry of Health, explained to news channel ČT24: “There are numerous flavours on the market, most of which are sweet and reminiscent of confectionery. Epidemiological data confirm that these flavours encourage young people to start smoking.”
According to the State Health Institute, one in two Czechs aged 15 to 24 uses nicotine, increasingly in the form of e-cigarettes. Jindřich Vobořil (ODS), the national coordinator for drug policy, emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws rather than additional regulations. He advocates for the revocation of licenses from sellers who violate the ban on sales to minors, arguing that fines are insufficient as a deterrent.
The regulation of e-cigarettes is also under discussion in other European countries. For example, the British government is planning to ban disposable cigarettes, which are particularly popular among children and have been criticized for environmental reasons. While e-cigarettes were distributed to smokers in the UK a year ago as an aid to quit smoking, there is now growing concern about the dangers of these products.
Despite ongoing debates among experts about the health effects of e-cigarettes, there is widespread agreement that they are less risky than conventional cigarettes. However, concerns remain that e-cigarettes could lead non-smokers to develop nicotine addiction.
