2018 Policy Address Public Consultation - Call for a Total Ban on E-cigarettes and Other New Tobacco
Date:2018-9-12 15:10:54 Clicks:650 【Font Size:
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Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (“COSH”), together with 68 medical groups and community organizations, sent a submission to the Chief Executive to urge the Government to enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, including heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products to safeguard public health and prevent them as a gateway to smoking; and to formulate a timeline for total ban of smoking to avoid the health risks of tobacco use.
E-cigarettes and other new tobacco products are marketed as trendy items attracting non-smokers, particularly the youngsters to try. Some smokers may switch to these products instead of quitting smoking. According to World Health Organization, there is no evidence to demonstrate that e-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products are any less harmful than conventional cigarettes, or can help addicts quit smoking. Moreover, harmful chemicals were also found in e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, bringing health risks to the public.
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 and the co-signatories urge the Government to enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, including HNB tobacco products, and formulate a timeline to ban smoking to protect public health and achieve a smoke-free Hong Kong.