France reveals strategy to prohibit single-use vaping devices.

France is planning to ban disposable e-cigarettes, known as "puffs," due to concerns about their impact on the environment and public health. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced the ban as part of a new anti-smoking plan being developed by the government. The ban is expected to be implemented by the end of the year, following similar moves by other European countries such as Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and potentially the UK. Disposable vapes in France, which are sold by tobacconists, cost around €9 (approximately £7.70) and are marketed as offering about 600 puffs, equivalent to roughly 40 cigarettes. However, France's National Academy of Medicine has criticized them as a "sly trap for children and adolescents." Borne said that they create a habit and gesture that children become accustomed to, eventually leading them to tobacco use. Campaigners argue that manufacturers, many of which are based in China, deliberately target teenagers with colorful designs and a variety of flavors reminiscent of sweets, including options like marshmallow, chocolate and hazelnut, watermelon, and ice candy. The Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT) has reported that 13% of 13-16-year-olds in France have tried disposable e-cigarettes, mostly starting around the age of 11 or 12. ACT President Loïc Josseran hailed the ban as a triumph for civil society and expressed concern about e-cigarettes acting as a gateway to smoking for young people. He criticized the tobacco industry for targeting children and called it an epidemic. One 16-year-old student from Paris shared his experience of starting to smoke disposable e-cigarettes two years ago after seeing it trending on TikTok. He believed they were less harmful than tobacco and found the colorful designs appealing. If the ban goes into effect, he plans to switch to regular vapes. Although purchasing "puffs" is restricted to individuals aged 18 and above, campaigners argue that it is easy for underage individuals to evade the age restriction, as tobacconists often fail to request proof of age. In addition to health concerns, campaigners also highlight the environmental impact of disposable e-cigarettes. A study by the UK environmental organization Material Focus revealed that over one million devices were being discarded weekly. French doctors and environmentalists described disposable e-cigarettes as an "environmental plague" due to their non-removable plastic components, lithium batteries, nicotine salts, and traces of heavy metals.