Dutch Government Implements Stricter Anti-Smoking Measures

Some believe that e-cigarettes will soon be allowed to taste like tobacco and no longer like candy or fruit, with stricter sales rules added to them. "Young people can now buy it in too many places. And now they can still buy it online. The more difficult it is to obtain these e-cigarettes, the more difficult it will be to start smoking," says Van Ooijen.

He also announced a ban on tobacco-free pouches containing nicotine that are placed under the lip. This is a variant of tobacco pouches that has already been prohibited. Van Ooijen believes that a broader ban on oral tobacco is necessary because, according to him, the tobacco industry is constantly inventing new products that expose young people to nicotine. He says that nicotine is harmful to young people and may lead them to start smoking at an earlier age.

The government is taking additional measures to combat smoking, some of which have already been announced. For instance, starting in 2030, cigarettes and tobacco can only be sold in convenience stores and specialty stores, and then only in specialty stores from 2032. By 2024, shops selling tobacco must be registered. More places are also beginning to ban smoking and considering raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21. Tobacco consumption tax will increase by 1.22 euros (about 9 yuan) in the next two years.

The KWF Cancer Control, Lung Fund, and Heart Foundation believe that the government's desire to take action is a good thing, but they express that their expectations of the government are even higher. For instance, the Health Foundation hopes that from 2024 onwards, there is a yearly increase of at least 10% in consumption taxes, only allowing tobacco to be sold in specialty shops, raising the minimum smoking age to 21, and extending the smoking ban. "Support for strong measures is higher than ever before," they said in a response.

The decision by Van Ooijen to restrict the flavors of e-cigarettes has come under criticism from the e-cigarette industry. The trade association Esigbond predicts that allowing only flavors that taste like tobacco will not be attractive to consumers.

I couldn't help but smile slightly as they said: 'Our users will decrease usage because of this,' Van Ooijen said. 'That is exactly our intention, as it is a harmful form of smoking.' The government secretary stated that electronic cigarettes could help smokers quit, but now 'the situation is often the opposite.' 'Young people are beginning to smoke tobacco through electronic cigarettes.'

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