According to a report by Gazeta.Ru, a recent survey conducted by BestDoctor revealed that over half of Russians (55%) support a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Additionally, nearly half of Russians (46%) advocate for a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
A survey also revealed that 34% of respondents believed that such a ban would help protect minors from the dangers of e-cigarettes, as they generally deemed the hazards of e-cigarettes to be evident. Additionally, 5% of respondents believed that this would contribute to reducing the number of deaths caused by vaping e-cigarettes.
Dr. Snezhanna Genin, a physician and oncology specialist at Besta Medical Group, comments, “Although it is commonly believed that e-cigarettes are harmless, this is not the case. Vape associated lung injury (VALI), caused by e-liquid, is considered a new disease by doctors due to its symptoms and presentation, resembling pneumonia, and is attributed to smoking e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes pose a particular danger to children and adolescents. Data shows that by early 2023, the number of Russian teenagers using e-cigarettes has increased tenfold compared to 2011. Therefore, from a medical perspective, proposals to restrict the sale of e-cigarettes are well-founded.
The interviewees expressed that they believe such restrictions would compel e-cigarette retailers to pay closer attention to the health of children and teenagers (in 34% of cases). Additionally, they also believe that promotional activities will decrease, which is a common occurrence among the younger generation, as they will no longer see e-cigarettes on store shelves or advertisements (in 28% of cases), and will no longer be influenced by popular influencers, movies, and TV shows (in 4% of cases).
Furthermore, a survey has shown that in Russia, the highest support for a total ban on e-cigarettes is found in Rostov Oblast, where 67% of citizens are in favor. Other cities that support the ban include Omsk (64%) and Kazan (63%). Every resident in Moscow and Saint Petersburg also supports a complete ban on e-cigarettes. The highest opposition to the ban is found in Ufa and Chelyabinsk, with 30% of respondents against it. In Krasnoyarsk, 28% of respondents oppose the ban, while in Tyumen and Nizhny Novgorod, the figures are 26% and 23% respectively. Moscow and Saint Petersburg have relatively lower levels of opposition, at 14% and 23% respectively.
