Hungarian High School Students Receive Award for Campaign Against Dangerous E-Cigarettes

According to Hirado.hu, 12 Hungarian high school students were awarded prizes by Dr. Zoltán Maruzsa, the State Secretary for Education at the Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Marcell Biró, the Chairman of the Supervisory Authority for regulated activities, during the announcement of the results of a video competition. The students competed against Elf Bar, a disposable e-cigarette device, by producing a short film that raises awareness of its dangers for their peers.

The competition is open to short films which can also be shown on social media. This not only highlights the dangers, but also emphasizes the efforts of society to oppose the use of "fairy bar". Dr. Marcell Biró stated during the award ceremony that "for over ten years, Hungary has been actively working to reduce underage smoking.

Dr. Zoltan Marusa, Minister of Education, emphasized in his speech that schools are not only a place for students to learn subjects but also a place to provide education. Schools educate children to protect their health, oppose behaviors that are deemed inappropriate by society, set examples for children, and teach them right from wrong.

Elf Bar is a disposable electronic cigarette that comes with pre-filled batteries and liquid, and has gained immense popularity among young people in recent months.

This product is specifically designed for young people, and with its many flavors, it quickly becomes addictive.

The story of Elf Bar began with a product from the United States called JUUL, which was later replicated in China and gave birth to the current product. Elf Bar vapes is based in California, but its products are manufactured in China. After the Australian market closed and Chinese products began to arrive unchecked through sea shipments, the Elf Bar craze swept through Europe.

Due to Elf Bar being a prohibited product in Hungary, it is being increasingly distributed through black market networks and has fallen into the hands of underage individuals.

Hungarian authorities are currently monitoring packages from China and trying to identify those who are bringing nicotine products targeted at young people into the country. These products are reported to come from Slovakia in many cases. In September, the Hungarian Competition Authority ordered the temporary closure of two Slovak-owned online stores that advertised Elf Bar products and e-cigarettes to Hungarian customers.

During the summer of this year, Bence Rétvári, the State Secretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Interior, issued a warning that Elf Bar is particularly dangerous due to its unknown and unreliable ingredients that have not been tested, along with its very high nicotine content. He recalled that the government takes action to protect the health of young people as soon as illegal products emerge.

Although there are no binding regulations at the EU level, in Hungary, it is illegal not only to market but also to possess certain products.

The parliament was compelled to take action and on July 19, passed stricter legislation. Consequently, unauthorized tobacco product retailers may be subjected to significant fines as deterrence measures.

Meanwhile, Elf Bar is not the only thing posing a threat to the health of young people; energy drinks have also become a trendy item among them. A large number of young people, especially school-aged children, continue to consume energy drinks. The government believes that it is important to raise awareness about this issue through various initiatives.