On July 22nd, the "China Tobacco Control Campus Tour" event, organized by the China Tobacco Control Association, was launched in Beijing. A reporter from the New Beijing News interviewed Vice President Liao Wenke.
When discussing the issue of teenage smoking rates, Liao Wenke quoted information from officials responsible for the National Health Commission: the smoking rate among teenagers has reached 6.9%, with an attempted smoking rate of 19.9%. Additionally, 180 million children have been exposed to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke in their homes or in public places.
According to a recent survey on tobacco use among Chinese high school and college students in 2021, conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of high school students who have experimented with smoking has reached 16.7%, with 23.2% of boys and 9.5% of girls. This figure has decreased compared to the results in 2019.
The electronic cigarette smoking rates among adolescents in countries around the world, aside from China, are also showing alarming trends.
A recent report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that one in every ten individuals aged 18 and above has at least tried electronic cigarettes or vaping devices, with 2.2% of this age group currently using them.
Teenagers who use electronic cigarettes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in March that found over 2.5 million American students used some form of tobacco product in 2021, with 80% of that usage attributed to disposable e-cigarettes and cartridge-based products like Juul.
According to this study, approximately 2.06 million high school students and 470,000 middle school students reported "currently" smoking.
Previously, there was a strong controversy in Russia over the "12-year-old boy dies from smoking e-cigarettes" incident. While it was ultimately determined that the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, this incident has caused Russian government agencies to pay attention to underage use of e-cigarettes and to tighten relevant regulations. According to interviews with some e-cigarette companies by 2FIRSTS, it is common for underage people to use e-cigarettes in Russia, and local distributors also hold a relaxed attitude towards this.
Although the number of young people using electronic cigarettes in the UK is relatively low, studies indicate that this figure is increasing. According to a survey conducted by YouGov and the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 who smoke e-cigarettes has risen from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022. The percentage of children who have tried e-cigarettes has also increased from 14% to 16%.
Governments around the world have responded to this issue by speaking out. The Association of Directors of Public Health in the UK has called for stricter regulations, including a ban on brightly colored packaging used by Elf Bar and a review of flavors that may appeal to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a health white paper entitled "Flavored E-Cigarettes and Adolescents," advocating for marketing restrictions and a ban on flavored tobacco products, which has been supported by over 200 US pediatricians to protect children from the dangers of e-cigarettes.
The reason why e-cigarettes have such a profound impact on young people is mainly because of their diverse shapes and flavors which easily attract attention, making it easy for teenagers to become addicted while playing with them. On the other hand, disposable e-cigarettes, which are popular abroad, are as small as USB drives and easy to hide, making them difficult for parents or teachers to detect. In addition to this, false advertising by businesses and advertisements specifically targeting minors also contribute significantly to this issue.
Despite existing policies in various countries that clearly prohibit minors from smoking e-cigarettes, Key Opinion Leaders who promote e-cigarettes on TikTok may face stricter regulatory and punitive measures as the negative impact of e-cigarettes on minors increases.
This article is a compilation of information gathered from various sources, intended for educational and informational purposes only. All copyrights for the summarized information belong to the original media and authors. Please contact us to have any potentially infringing content removed.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
