ArmInfo.In Armenia, the regulation of tobacco and tobacco products envisaged by the draft law will also affect vapes. This was announced by Director of the National Institute of Health Alexander Bazarchyan at a press conference on November 8.
The expert drew attention to the fact that the advertising of electronic cigarettes is also aimed at attracting buyers among young people. Among the marketing moves are the original product design, vibrant packaging colors, multifunctionality (for example, combining vape and USB chargers), and so on. Meanwhile, as was noted, vapes cause serious damage to health, adversely affecting the lungs and cardiovascular system.
In particular, vaping leads to lung damage, which is fraught with the development of pneumonia. Bazarchyan drew attention to the fact that about 300 deaths from the use of electronic cigarettes have already been recorded in the world. "The regulation of vaping will help prevent such deaths in Armenia," he emphasized, noting that studies on supposedly electronic cigarette safety are funded by the tobacco companies themselves, and their main goal is to mislead potential customers. Viktor Zykov, member of the coordinating council on tobacco control under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, agrees with this opinion. He emphasized that vapes contain carcinogens that negatively affect health. Zykov noted that the Government of the Russian Federation supported the bill on restricting smoking of vapes and hookahs, and the document has already been submitted to parliament for consideration.
In Russia, the anti-tobacco law was adopted in 2013, and over the years there have been a number of positive changes. In particular, as Zykov said, there is a downward trend in the number of smokers: according to data for 2016, every fifth resident of the country refused tobacco. In addition, despite initial concerns, revenue in the restaurant and hotel business has not decreased, but rather increased. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating systems do not prevent cancer. In addition, studies in the US show that vapes actually increase the number of young smokers.
According to the draft law "On Reducing and Preventing the Negative Impact of the Use of Tobacco Products and Their Substitutes," for the first time in Armenia smoking will be prohibited in canteens, restaurants, cafes, bars, buffets, casinos, and shopping centers. Legislative changes are also planned to amend the law "On Administrative Offenses". So, in case of smoking in the restaurant, on the territory of which the prohibition signs are placed, an individual will be fined 50 thousand drams. Meanwhile, if facts of the absence of prohibition signs are revealed, a fine of 150- 200 thousand drams will be imposed on the legal entity. Violation of the ban on advertising tobacco products, their analogues and substitutes on television will be punishable by a fine of 700-800 thousand drams.