Entries by Matthew Ma

Texas Lawmakers Consider Banning Smoking in Vehicles with Children

Smoking remains a prevalent habit among many East Texas residents, despite its well-documented health risks and financial costs. While adults are free to make their own choices regarding tobacco use, the presence of children in a vehicle with a smoking adult raises significant concerns about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure on minors.

Bulgarian Vapers Rally Against National Ban with EU-Wide Petition

A growing coalition of vaping advocates has launched a formal petition to the European Parliament opposing Bulgaria’s sweeping prohibition on e-cigarettes. The group, operating under the Discord Vape banner, argues the ban unlawfully restricts adult access to harm-reduction tools while failing to address youth access issues effectively. With 8,000 members linked to Discord’s global 150-million-user […]

France Becomes Second EU Country to Ban Single-Use E-Cigarettes

The French parliament has voted to ban single-use electronic cigarettes, also known as disposable vapes or “puffs,” making France the second European Union country after Belgium to introduce such a ban. The bill, which received final approval in the Senate upper house on Thursday, is part of a broader government campaign to reduce smoking and […]

ACS Releases Comprehensive Guide and Poster to Help Retailers Prepare for UK Disposable Vape Ban

New Resources Provide Detailed Instructions on Compliance, Product Legitimacy, Age Verification, and Recycling Requirements The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has published a comprehensive guide and accompanying poster to assist retailers in preparing for the upcoming ban on disposable vaping products in the UK. The ban, set to take effect on June 1, 2025, will […]

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Australia vs New Zealand: How Vaping Policies Impact Smoking Rate Declines

A recent study conducted by a team of Australian and New Zealand academics has found that New Zealand’s adult smoking rate has fallen faster than Australia’s over the past decade, despite New Zealand starting with a higher rate in 2013. The researchers explored potential reasons for this difference, focusing on the contrasting approaches to vaping […]

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France Bans Disposable Vapes as New Nicotine Products Flood Market

France’s Parliament will finalize a ban on disposable e-cigarettes (“vapes”) this week, closing a two-year legislative process delayed by EU notifications and political shifts. The move targets colorful, low-cost vapes accused of addicting youth through sugary flavors and plastic waste. Health advocates warn, however, that nicotine pouches and candy-like nicotine pearls now dominate the market, […]

Maldives Grants Police Expanded Powers to Confiscate and Destroy Vapes

The Maldives Ministry of Health has enacted stringent tobacco control measures granting police authority to seize and destroy vaping devices found in public or private possession. The updated Tobacco Control General Regulations, gazetted this week, close enforcement loopholes in the nation’s December 2024 vape import and usage ban.

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California and Denver Ban Flavored Nicotine Analog Products

In a significant development for tobacco control policy, the state of California and the city and county of Denver have recently implemented what appear to be the nation’s first bans on flavored tobacco products that specifically include nicotinic alkaloids and nicotine analogs. These novel restrictions come as regulators grapple with the increasing popularity of products […]

Study Finds No Clear Link Between Youth Vaping and Smoking

Study Challenges “Gateway” Theory, Highlights Need for Further Research A large-scale review of 123 studies, encompassing data from approximately 4 million participants under the age of 29 in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, has found no conclusive evidence that vaping leads to cigarette smoking among youth. The findings, published in the journal Addiction, challenge […]