After the Netherlands, Belgium warns of the arrival of “smart vapes”

Belgian pediatricians are concerned about the arrival of smart electronic cigarettes, or "smart vapes" in Belgium. A few days ago, Dutch doctors had already sounded the alarm about this new generation of electronic cigarettes available illegally in the Netherlands[1].

Smart vapes stand out from traditional e-cigarettes due to their advanced technologies. In addition to vaping, they have a screen and offer options such as Bluetooth, receiving messages, making phone calls, and even playing video games.

Products specifically designed to attract children

These products have touch screens, animated displays, speakers or even integrated video games that are likely to attract young people who are not yet consumers of vaping products, while reinforcing nicotine addiction among current users. These devices are available in many flavors and at attractive prices.

Some models particularly encourage consumption because the integrated games offer a ranking based on the number of puffs. The more you vape, the higher you appear in the ranking, creating a competition with other consumers. The scores can then be shared on social networks and rewards are offered. In France, such devices are also on sale on French sites and offer games like the popular Tamagotchi from the 90s where you have to take care of a virtual animal. Thus vaping allows you to collect virtual coins to feed your animal.

Belgian health professionals are concerned about these new devices because they combine both nicotine consumption and digital activities popular among young people (video games, screens), making these products particularly attractive with a reinforcement of the dependency of these practices already identified for their addictive nature.

Illegal devices

In Belgium, the sale of these devices in stores is prohibited, but devices are sold "under the counter" and they are also easily accessible online despite the ban on the sale of vaping devices on the Internet. Belgian influencers are also promoting these devices on social networks.

For the president of the Belgian Academy of Pediatrics, Ann De Guchtenaere, the government must act quickly on this issue, especially since disposable electronic devices (puffs), very popular with young people, will be banned from sale in the country from 1^er January 2025[2] and these products are designed with a substitution perspective.

These products also contain 20 ml e-liquid tanks, while the law only allows 2 ml. This represents the equivalent of nearly 40,000 puffs, or 10x more than for a classic e-cigarette. Justine Cerise, the spokesperson for Belgian Public Health, also adds that these products are designed outside the European Union, often in China where " The standards for safety, quality, products, etc. are much lower than in the EU. There is therefore no guarantee of product safety. »

©Tobacco Free Generation

AE

[1] Generation without tobacco, Netherlands: The arrival of “smart vapes” worries health professionals, published October 24, 2024, accessed October 29, 2024

[2] Celine Biourge, The Smart Vape: the new electronic cigarette, banned in Belgium, which risks making our teenagers addicted, RTBF, published on October 28, 2024, consulted on October 29, 2024