What you need to know about the Puff, the disposable electronic cigarette that some are calling for a ban

The Puff is a type of electronic cigarette that was introduced in France in 2021. Unlike other electronic cigarettes, it is disposable and can be bought anywhere, ready to consume for only 9 euros, which makes it cheaper than a packet of cigarettes for a few days of use. It is very popular among young people, even if it is officially prohibited for minors. However, it is easy to buy it from tobacconists or on the internet.

The Puff is distinguished by its multicolored packaging and its multiple flavors, such as Puff bubble gum, cookie or sparkling cola. Last year, more than 13% of teens said they had used the Puff. This week, doctors, tobacco specialists and environmental activists demanded in the newspaper The world (article for subscribers) the ban on the Puff. It is already being banned in Germany, Belgium or Ireland.

A “gateway to smoking”

In France, however, nothing is done to prohibit it. Everyone recognizes that the Puff has only flaws. According to the National Academy of Medicine, she is a “devious trap”while the High Council for Public Health considers it a “gateway to smoking”. It can contain up to 20 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre, the maximum allowed, and is highly addictive as well as potentially inflaming the airways. Not to mention the consequences for the environment: it is made of plastic, a flammable battery, lithium and heavy metals that can pollute soils, oceans and groundwater.

Despite this, the Puff is still not banned in France. Senators had recently proposed the establishment of a deterrent tax, but this proposal was rejected by the government. He was content with reminders of the rather vague regulations. Recently, deputies tabled a bill in the National Assembly to ban the Puff. The Minister of Health, questioned, assured that his position could evolve and harden … in the coming days.