The National Committee against Smoking, guest of franceinfo on Monday, explains why flavorings in electronic cigarettes must be banned.
The National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) calls for a ban on flavors in electronic cigarettes: “It completely trivializes the consumption of nicotine, we do not realize in fact that we are consuming a drug”explained Monday, February 13 on franceinfo Emmanuelle Béguinot director of the CNCT, the oldest association for the prevention of smoking in France.
In a study conducted between 2020 and 2022, the association noted the extremely rapid evolution of the market, with the permanent appearance of new products, marketed legally or illegally. “In more than two out of three cases”tobacconists “do not respect the ban on sales to minors” Puff, flavored disposable electronic cigarettes that are very popular with young people. tobacconists “are very concerned about violations regarding the ban on advertising”she said.
franceinfo: What do you complain about its aromas?
Emmanuelle Beguinot: They are criticized for the fact that they are very attractive. They are heavily promoted by manufacturers, targeting young people, teenagers, even pre-teens because we are using very fruity, very sweet flavors which are particularly attractive. As a result, it completely trivializes the consumption of nicotine. We don’t actually realize that we are using a drug. The earlier you start, the more addicted you become, the harder it is to quit.
By banning aromas, won’t you risk bringing all ex-smokers back to cigarettes?
Compared to quitting smoking in connection with the electronic cigarette, there is always debate, especially in the long term. What we can say is that it is absolutely not the aromas that lead smokers to choose the electronic cigarette. The choices for opting for an electronic cigarette do not refer to aromas. On the other hand, we know that the aromas are very attractive compared to young people.
Puff electronic cigarettes, which are very popular with young people, are in theory prohibited for sale to minors. Is this really the case?
We are not allowed to sell to them. Since the start of the 2021 school year, these products have been found almost everywhere. Not just in tobacconists or specialty stores, but also in supermarkets, specialty chains, and even restaurants. They are found absolutely everywhere. There is intense promotion being done. They are placed in strategic places and suddenly, they are likened to confectionery. We no longer have, once again, the idea that we are consuming a drug.
Can tobacconists be trusted?
In more than two out of three cases, tobacconists sell to minors. Moreover, there is legislation that exists so that there is no promotion in favor of all these products. This legislation is not respected at all.
These disposable electronic cigarettes, with a sour taste, which sometimes recall childhood, is this the new recruitment channel for smokers from tobacco manufacturers?
They face a declining market for traditional tobacco products. So they have developed an aggressive counter-offensive to renew their market and in particular, they are offering many new products with different entry points into nicotine addiction.
After years of decline, there is an increase in smoking in France in 2021. Does this show the limits of the increase in the price of cigarettes?
We can not say that. Because precisely, it was when we stopped having these price increases that we saw a recovery in consumption. Certainly smoking is really what is called a social marker. When you ask people who are going to quit smoking, especially people who are the most disadvantaged, there is the health and the cost that strongly encourage them to quit smoking. When we increase taxes, it is precisely people who have little means, from the moment we help them to quit, who are the most likely to quit, and also young people who do not start smoking. But it’s not just tax policy. There are other measures [efficaces]such as the one we are proposing: the ban on flavourings.
New Zealand is considering phasing out the sale of cigarettes. Is it realistic?
This is an avenue studied by many countries, which are more and more numerous to have reduced the consumption of their population, in particular that of young people. In France, you have to have this objective. Unfortunately, we still have a very high consumption.