E-Cigarette Ban: Smoking E-Cigarettes Could Land You In Jail

The Health Ministry had proposed an executive order from the government banning the devices in public interest. The Cabinet has taken a decision to ban e-cigarettes as a backlash gathers pace worldwide about a technology promoted as less harmful than smoking tobacco. The Cabinet has approved the ordinance banning e-cigarettes on September 18. The ban means the production, manufacturing, import/export, sale, storage and advertising of e-cigarettes are banned.

Now the users of e-cigarettes and e-hookahs can face penalties and jail term too. First-time offenders of e-cigarette ban face 1 year in prison and a Rs 1 lakh fine. Three-years jail term, or up to Rs 5 lakh fine or both, for repeat offenders.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitha-Raman during a press conference in Delhi, “The Union Cabinet has approved the Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 and e-cigarettes along with e-hookahs will be banned in India with immediate effect.”

India is the world’s second-largest consumer of tobacco products after China, and more than 900,000 people die in the country each year from tobacco-related illnesses. The ban on e-cigarettes will dash the expansion plans of companies such as Juul Labs and Philip Morris International in the country.

As per a Reuter report, Juul had plans to launch its e-cigarette in India and has hired several senior executives in recent months. Philip Morris also has plans to launch its heat-not-burn smoking device in India.

India’s ban came a day after New York became the second US state to prohibit the use of flavoured e-cigarettes. Critics of vaping say flavours appeal particularly to children and risk them becoming addicted to nicotine.

Also Read: World No Tobacco Day: India among top 4 users of tobacco