By Irfan Iskandar Putera
Smoking is detrimental to our health; a fact that all of us know well but not all of us are willing to accept. Some of the smokers now opt for vaping, a new way of smoking using battery-powered device and without the consumption of tobacco in traditional cigarette, claiming that it is safer. Is it?
Vape has been in the market for quite some time now, but not until last year that it started to become some sort of a trend in Malaysia. Everywhere we go, we could see people of all ages vaping. There are about one million vape users in Malaysia, placing us second in vaping industry after the US.
Some people, seeing this as an opportunity, started to venture into vaping industry by selling the vaping devices and liquids. This is a booming and profitable market, with its ever-growing customers. But not until recently that it becomes a matter of national scrutiny after a vape’s battery exploded in an airplane.
A few days later, the Cabinet made the decision to legalise vape. The Ministry of Health disagrees with the Cabinet’s decision, saying that it should be banned completely instead of just being regulated because of its harmful effect on health.
The pressure keeps amounting as certain groups seek for the banning of vape before things get worse. This has raised uneasiness among those in vaping industry as the complete ban on vape will not only force them to shut down their business but also will make them lose thousands of ringgit they have laboured.
Vape users propose that vape liquids should be placed under the Food Act as tobacco in cigarette, not under the Poisons Act, to be fair.
If vape is as dangerous as cigarette, then why do people vape? Some smokers vape as a way to quit their smoking habit which is very hard to do instantly, or so they claim. This is because vape liquids – some of them – do not contain nicotine (which causes addiction) as it is protected under the Poisons Act.
So they choose vaping instead, considering that it causes less addiction which will aid them in quitting their smoking habit. It is also a less expensive habit compared to smoking which might cost them RM17 a day, if they smoke only one pack a day.
However, because of its variety of tasty and unique flavours, it has attracted non-smokers of all ages, men and women, to start trying it. Parents and teachers are voicing out their concerns regarding children vaping as early as in primary school and in school compound.
It is also not uncommon for people to post photos of them vaping on the social media when before this they did not even dare to touch cigarettes. And the worst is, there are those who smoke and vape at the same time. Instead of becoming a solution to quit smoking, it now becomes a trend that needs to be followed, especially among teenagers.
The question is, does vape end addiction or start a new one?
The government has yet to regulate vape, and this has inflicted a great concern among the public at large. Apart from disliking vape users blowing smoke to their face, they also worry about their safety, referring to the usage of cheap vaping devices that may explode at any time.
Vape users are vaping in public places, in malls, in shops and everywhere, since there is not yet any law being passed on vaping. People are uncomfortable with this. Therefore, vape users should vape considerately, taking into account the people around them if they do not want people to be annoyed, which in turn will support the motion to ban vape.
The Ministry of Health has recently reached a decision to allow only licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners to sell vape liquids containing nicotine. But then, the government should take quick measures in solving other problems before things get out of control.
Regulations should be made regarding the age restrictions, the usage of quality vape devices and the usage of nicotine-free vape liquids. The usage of vape in public places should also be taken into account.
As for the vape users, “we get it that you look cool vaping, or so you think.” But most people are uncomfortable inhaling and surrounded by the smoke, no matter how tasty or fruity the smoke may appear to smokers. ***
Photo courtesy of Wired