South Africa’s strict new vapes bill could push more people to smoking, a health committee has warned.
The South African government has drafted a new Tobacco Bill that aims to put vaping on a par with smoking in how it is regulated.
Vapes would be classed as tobacco products, meaning their use would be banned in all public places. Advertisement of vapes would be prohibited, and the Health Minister would also be given powers to restrict their packaging and labelling.
Portfolio Committee calls for more research
However, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health has now warned that the move could backfire and push up South Africa’s smoking rate.
It has called for more research on how the health risks of vaping compare to conventional smoking.
The committee’s concerns were reportedly raised after a public consultation on the Bill. It highlighted that the new legislation does not distinguish between vapes and cigarettes, or consider their role as an important tool to help smokers quit.
In 2021, 25.8 per cent of South African adults smoked, equating to 11.1 million people. In the same year, about 42 000 people died from tobacco-related diseases including cancer and heart and lung problems.
Having signed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) anti-tobacco agreement – the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control – South Africa must have rules in place so smokers are encouraged to quit their habit and young people aren’t tempted by what the WHO calls “one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced”.
Evidence stacking up to show how bans backfire
But vaping advocates warn that treating vapes like cigarettes will stop more people from quitting the far more dangerous habit.
Evidence is stacking up to show that countries introducing tough new laws on vapes – such as Australia and Brazil – have found little change in smoking rates and a big rise in black market sales of vapes.
This week it was revealed that in Australia – where it is illegal to buy vapes outside of pharmacies – legal vapes were bought just 3,500 times in October, despite the country having around one million vapers.
A Therapeutic Goods Administration report examined by a Senate inquiry earlier this year found that as many as 97 per cent of vapers in Australia were estimated to be buying their products from the black market.
Meanwhile, the vapes ban has led to dangerous criminal gangs fighting for control over black market trade. Since the beginning of last year, there have been more than 120 firebombings of tobacco shops.
Sweden’s success story
In contrast, Sweden this week became the first country to be officially declared “smoke free.”
New data shows that just 4.5 per cent of Swedish-born adults now smoke – well under the globally recognised benchmark of five per cent to achieve smoke free status.
Sweden says it has achieved the impressive milestone because of its pioneering approach to vaping, snus, and other nicotine alternatives. It makes these far safer options to cigarettes widely available to help smokers quit.
