According to a report by Estonian media outlet Newsy-Today on December 12th, while the number of adult smokers in Estonia has been gradually decreasing, there is a concerning trend among the country's youth with regards to smoking behavior. The use of traditional cigarettes is being replaced by e-cigarettes, particularly due to the appealing candy flavors they offer. This is attracting an increasingly younger demographic, exposing them to nicotine addiction.
According to Aive Telling, Director of Chemical Safety and Environmental Health at the Ministry of Social Affairs, the use of e-cigarettes is showing an overall increasing trend, particularly among young people.
Young people today are starting to use e-cigarettes at a much younger age than in the past, with the current starting age now being discussed as 10-11 years old, according to senior expert Tiina Kuusik from the Institute of Healthy Development Research. She further adds that their first exposure to tobacco products is now e-cigarettes, as opposed to the traditional combustible cigarettes of the past.
Trinh further confirmed that the usage of nicotine products among teenagers has not decreased compared to decades ago. However, it is much easier for underage individuals to purchase e-cigarettes containing nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes. He pointed out that if minors are not required to provide age verification when buying e-cigarettes, or if they can knowingly purchase them despite being underage, then 60% of underage individuals would acquire traditional cigarettes through this method.
Despite France's decision to ban disposable e-cigarettes, Estonia does not believe that this will have the desired effect. While e-cigarettes with sweet-flavored e-liquids have been banned, directly prohibiting such flavored devices has not reduced their prevalence. Moreover, students in Latvia are even able to acquire these sweet-flavored devices through illegal channels.
Trin expressed, "This should be a central issue addressed by all countries. It is indeed challenging to tackle this issue one by one.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
