Are we vaping out the real issue?
Published on: Thursday, January 21, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: It appears that the white cloud puffed out by e-cigarette smokers has clouded the real debate over vaping. While vapers and vape paraphernalia sellers are adamant that there is nothing wrong with vaping, much of the society begged to differ. The society views vaping as a more pressing issue as it is not regulated unlike the traditional tobacco and cigarettes.
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However, in spite of the strong dissenting voices, there seems to be no common stand taken by the country on vaping. This is a stark contrast to the united stand taken by vapers and those in the vape business on any move to ban vaping. Looking at how the different states and the different parties are tackling the issue differently, I fear that one day I will wake up to conflicting laws on other matters as well. There is a genuine reason for anyone to fear the vaping "endemic" and its impact on the society.
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Though there are claims that the so-called vape liquid or e-juice is nicotine-free, there were instances where the liquid had been laced with drugs. Recently seven people were detained by the police following the discovery of vape liquid containing ganja (weed).
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The liquid is believed to be marketed via social media and couriered to the buyers.An electronic cigarette or vape seller was also fined RM2,000 by the Magistrate's Court in Kota Baru on charges of selling and unlawful possession of liquid nicotine described as poisonous.There has been various incidents that clearly showcased how dangerous a non-regulated vaping can turn out to be, not only to the users but also others and their surroundings.Sometime back the vape battery of a Malindo Air passenger suddenly burst setting other passengers on a panic mode. In another incident, a rather shocking one, a man was severely injured after the e-cigarette exploded in his mouth.However, the action taken by the authorities in individual manner is mind bogling and confusing.To-date, Johor has completely banned vape, while Pahang came up with an edict banning it and Perak has directed all local authorities in the state to stop issuing premise licenses to sellers of e-cigarette and vape products.Selangor also announced that there would be no renewal of licences for vape shops in the state, while Kedah has adopted a wait and see approach.There seems to be no common stand taken by the country on vaping. It is still not clear why Putrajaya has yet to make its stand on vaping, instead of differing its decision to the end of January 2016. Given the seriousness of the issue there should have been a temporary nationwide ban till a decision is taken on it, rather than every state coming up with their own decision and leaving everyone confused.I strongly believe that there should either be a blanket ban on vaping or in the event it is allowed it should be strictly regulated. Who can guarantee that vaping is safer than cigarette smoking. As for me, e-cigarettes are a novel way to hook the younger generation to a new problem.While vapers claim that vaping helps them quit tobacco, a new analysis by University of California in the US found otherwise with adult vapers are actually 28 percent less likely to stop smoking cigarettes.On the claim that the vape juice is nicotine free, in 2009 the US food and Drug Administration found that products that claimed to be nicotine free actually had traces of nicotine. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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