LETTERS: Malaysia is part of a global vaping epidemic. Although many countries took drastic measures such as banning vape devices, others permitted their usage to aid heavy smokers to switch to healthier alternatives.
A former health minister tried to prevent minors from picking up smoking and using tobacco products. He sought to pass the Generational End Game (GEG) Bill.
His version, however, did not include vaping and the usage of e-cigarettes. Perhaps, he did not foresee minors drastically resorting to vaping.
Thus, it is hoped that the current minister will make the control of vaping as the cornerstone of the new GEG Bill.
Indeed, the bill should, in essence, be a vape law. Doing so will allow it to emerge as an anti-smoking law in the near future.
Keeping vaping controls in the bill will allow the government to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, usage and differentiation of products, that is, between vapour and heated tobacco.
It will also protect minors by prohibiting them from acquiring vapes, with heavy penalties imposed on those who violate the restrictions.
The public is perhaps unaware that treating vape-related diseases and lung damage caused by vaping is expensive and irreversible.
This is not to say that smoking conventional cigarettes are any better.
To be sure, although the best option would be to quit smoking, regulated vapes or e-cigarettes can provide a temporary alternative for heavy smokers who want to stop.
The problem here is that of young people smoking dangerous, unregulated or disposable devices for recreational purposes. Indeed, a blanket ban on vape devices and e-cigarettes will not eradicate the problem.
Instead, it will lead to the sprouting up of black markets for more dangerous and unregulated products, whose content and level of nicotine in vape juices cannot be determined.
I hope that the ministry will enact a vape law just like in the Philippines.
We do not want to see more reports of minors and young adults hospitalised or worse due to vaping-related disorders.
DR EDWARD DING
Klang, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times