Vape ban is losing sight of problem
October 05, 2026 by thestatesman.com
Vape ban is losing sight of problem
Recent arrests in Hyderabad reveal that India’s vape ban has not prevented teenagers from accessing e-cigarettes through illicit suppliers. The article argues that prohibition sustains an underground market lacking age checks, product standards and marketing oversight, while denying adult smokers legal access to potentially less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. It advocates distinguishing youth protection from adult harm reduction through regulation, including age verification, advertising restrictions and penalties for sales to minors. Enforcement remains necessary, but success should be measured by reduced underage access and smoking-related harm, not raids or seizures. A regulated approach, the author suggests, could offer greater oversight than a blanket ban.
