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Enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products for the sake of public health
Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH), The Hong Kong Medical Association, Hong Kong Doctors Union and Hong Kong Dental Association urge the Government to totally ban electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other new tobacco products to safeguard public health. Mr Antonio KWONG, COSH Chairman said, “COSH has serious concerns on the growth of e-cigarettes and new tobacco products including heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products in recent years. They are marketed as trendy products attracting non-smokers, particularly the youngsters to try. Some smokers may switch to these products instead of quitting smoking. No tobacco product is safe. Harmful chemicals were also found in e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, bringing health risks to the public. The Government should ban these products as soon as possible to nip it in the bud.”
The School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that the use of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products may become a gateway to smoking among the youngsters and children. According to the school-based survey on smoking among students in 2016/17, the prevalence rate of ever e-cigarette use among P4-P6 students was 1.4%. For those P4-P6 students who had ever tried cigarettes and e-cigarette, 73% of them tried e-cigarettes first. Among the secondary school students, the prevalence rate of ever e-cigarette use was 8.7%. About 0.1% of secondary school students had used HNB tobacco products in the past 30 days of which 29% had never smoked cigarettes while nearly half had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Dr Daniel HO, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, HKU remarked, “E-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products are being marketed as trendy and less harmful. Different names from traditional cigarettes are used to reduce public awareness on their harms and attract youngsters to use. A total ban on these products should be implemented to prevent them from being a gateway to smoking.”
E-cigarettes are promoted as a smoking cessation tool. However, the School of Nursing, HKU found that e-cigarette use did not help quit smoking nor reduce smoking in youth and adults. According to the survey conducted by the Youth Quitline of School of Nursing, HKU in 2014-15, only around 13.4% of the young smokers who had ever used e-cigarettes quit smoking at 6-month follow-up, which is lower than those who had never used e-cigarettes (20.8%). Dr Kelvin WANG, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, HKU pointed out, “World Health Organization does not recognize e-cigarettes as a legitimate tool for smoking cessation. Research also found that e-cigarettes posed potential health risks, did not help quit smoking and may even become a hindrance. We should enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products promptly to prevent their epidemic.”
Dr David LAM, Honorary Secretary, The Hong Kong Medical Association, claimed that The Medical Association considers protecting the public from harmful products an essential and integral part of public health policy. E-cigarettes and other new tobacco products are addictive and potentially harmful. They should be banned regardless of the level of harm. The Association encourages smokers to cease smoking, but not to switch to e-cigarettes nor other tobacco products.
Dr YEUNG Chiu-fat, President, Hong Kong Doctors Union said, as a Doctors' NGO committed to cater for better health protection of the Hong Kong Community, Hong Kong Doctors Union fully supports anti-smoking campaign(s) and Government's anti-smoking policy and legislation as smoking is well documented to be hazardous to our health. Hong Kong Doctors Union shall aim at a smoke-free Hong Kong and take away the dangers of smoking to young children and teenagers around the city. They called on the Government to ban e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products.
Dr Haston LIU, President, Hong Kong Dental Association believed that tobacco control is essential in formulating a wholesome public healthcare policy. Hong Kong Dental Association has been sparing no efforts in supporting the strengthening of tobacco control policies to reduce smoking and protect public oral health as well as general health. Toxic substances were found in e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products. The long-term health effects should not be underestimated. Complete ban should be enacted.
To prevent the potential health risks associated with the use and secondhand smoke of e-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products, as well as to stop these products from being a gateway to youth smoking, COSH, The Hong Kong Medical Association, Hong Kong Doctors Union and Hong Kong Dental Association urge the Government to implement a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products including HNB tobacco products as soon as possible.
Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, The Hong Kong Medical Association, Hong Kong Doctors Union and Hong Kong Dental Association urge the Government to totally ban e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products to safeguard public health.
The School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that the use of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products may become a gateway to smoking among the youngsters and children. According to the school-based survey on smoking among students in 2016/17, the prevalence rate of ever e-cigarette use among P4-P6 students was 1.4%. For those P4-P6 students who had ever tried cigarettes and e-cigarette, 73% of them tried e-cigarettes first. Among the secondary school students, the prevalence rate of ever e-cigarette use was 8.7%. About 0.1% of secondary school students had used HNB tobacco products in the past 30 days of which 29% had never smoked cigarettes while nearly half had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Dr Daniel HO, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, HKU remarked, “E-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products are being marketed as trendy and less harmful. Different names from traditional cigarettes are used to reduce public awareness on their harms and attract youngsters to use. A total ban on these products should be implemented to prevent them from being a gateway to smoking.”
E-cigarettes are promoted as a smoking cessation tool. However, the School of Nursing, HKU found that e-cigarette use did not help quit smoking nor reduce smoking in youth and adults. According to the survey conducted by the Youth Quitline of School of Nursing, HKU in 2014-15, only around 13.4% of the young smokers who had ever used e-cigarettes quit smoking at 6-month follow-up, which is lower than those who had never used e-cigarettes (20.8%). Dr Kelvin WANG, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, HKU pointed out, “World Health Organization does not recognize e-cigarettes as a legitimate tool for smoking cessation. Research also found that e-cigarettes posed potential health risks, did not help quit smoking and may even become a hindrance. We should enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products promptly to prevent their epidemic.”
Dr David LAM, Honorary Secretary, The Hong Kong Medical Association, claimed that The Medical Association considers protecting the public from harmful products an essential and integral part of public health policy. E-cigarettes and other new tobacco products are addictive and potentially harmful. They should be banned regardless of the level of harm. The Association encourages smokers to cease smoking, but not to switch to e-cigarettes nor other tobacco products.
Dr YEUNG Chiu-fat, President, Hong Kong Doctors Union said, as a Doctors' NGO committed to cater for better health protection of the Hong Kong Community, Hong Kong Doctors Union fully supports anti-smoking campaign(s) and Government's anti-smoking policy and legislation as smoking is well documented to be hazardous to our health. Hong Kong Doctors Union shall aim at a smoke-free Hong Kong and take away the dangers of smoking to young children and teenagers around the city. They called on the Government to ban e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products.
Dr Haston LIU, President, Hong Kong Dental Association believed that tobacco control is essential in formulating a wholesome public healthcare policy. Hong Kong Dental Association has been sparing no efforts in supporting the strengthening of tobacco control policies to reduce smoking and protect public oral health as well as general health. Toxic substances were found in e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products. The long-term health effects should not be underestimated. Complete ban should be enacted.
To prevent the potential health risks associated with the use and secondhand smoke of e-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products, as well as to stop these products from being a gateway to youth smoking, COSH, The Hong Kong Medical Association, Hong Kong Doctors Union and Hong Kong Dental Association urge the Government to implement a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products including HNB tobacco products as soon as possible.
Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, The Hong Kong Medical Association, Hong Kong Doctors Union and Hong Kong Dental Association urge the Government to totally ban e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products to safeguard public health.
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