the goan I network
PANAJI
The ban imposed by the Centre on production, import, distribution and sale, Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) commonly known as vapes, vaping devices or e-cigarettes has upset the growing vaping community in Goa even as anti-smoking campaigners welcomed it.
Popular among the youngsters, particularly the partying types, the ban has evoked sharp reactions questioning its wisdom while chewable tobacco products and cigarettes which are a greater threat to public health are left without any State-imposed curbs.
The stiff deterrents of a jail term extendable to up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh fixed for violators in the Ordinance and further added to the debate. Previously trading of vaping devices was technically not regulated under any law or regulation and the new Ordinance arms the State to crackdown on the growing business. The devices come in two varieties. The first are e-cigarettes which resemble traditional cigarettes and use disposal, liquid-filled cartridges. They can be re-charged using a normal cellphone charger.
The second are vaporisers or vape pens which are larger, have long battery life and are re-usable.
Popular Chef Vasquito Alvares kicked off the debate on Facebook with a post indirectly attacking the move of the govt as a possible measure to favour tobacco giants.
“Is the cigarette industry suffering because millennials prefer vaping?,” Alvares posted on his timeline lacing it with a ‘Tai ka jawab nahi’ barb at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who announced the ban.
The post evinced intense debate as comments thread on it had FB users gunning for the ‘tobacco lobby’ and suggesting vaping threatens their market monopolies. Another user trolled the government with a sarcasm-filled comment censuring it for being happier with people killing themselves by puffing “tax paid stuff”.
Traders in e-cigarettes meanwhile aren’t too worried. “It’s not going to affect us much. Sales are higher for re-fill cartridges which are in high demand.
“Customers buying new vaping devices are rare,” said Rakesh Suthar, proprietor of a novelty shop in Margao.
“The demand for the cartridges will not fall as long as people use it, but yes we will not have new customers for the devices” he added.
