Preventing e-cigarettes: Strong laws - Deep education - Synchronous coordination

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are quietly creeping into Vietnam’s youth, despite being banned by law. Many experts warn that without strong and coordinated measures, these products will become a “gateway” to nicotine addiction among school-age children.

Reporters of the Vietnam Women's Newspaper had an interview with lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang - Director of Chinh Phap Dong Tam Law Firm , regarding electronic cigarettes and solutions to strictly enforce the absolute ban on new tobacco products to protect people's health and the country's future.

- From a lawyer's perspective, what do you think about the complete ban on the production, import, sale, advertising and use of new tobacco products?

Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang: From January 1, 2025, e-cigarettes have been identified as banned items in Vietnam. Any violations will be punished according to current regulations. In my opinion, the complete ban is the right decision, demonstrating the State's responsibility in protecting public health.

Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang

Many international medical studies have proven that e-cigarettes are not "safer" than traditional cigarettes. The vapor still contains nicotine - a highly addictive substance, along with hundreds of toxic chemicals. There is no scientific evidence that e-cigarettes help quit smoking; on the contrary, they are becoming a "gateway to nicotine addiction" for young people, causing the risk of early addiction and long-term dependence.

Therefore, an absolute ban is necessary to prevent the risk of forming a new generation of addicts from the root, protect people's health and ensure the country's sustainable development.

- To effectively implement this ban, what legal regulations do you think need to be amended or supplemented?

Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang: The key point now is that the 2012 Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms has not updated the concept of "new tobacco products", leading to a legal gap in handling violations. This law needs to be amended soon, clearly stating that "electronic cigarettes", "heated tobacco", and "smokeless tobacco" are absolutely prohibited products.

At the same time, it is necessary to increase administrative and criminal sanctions against acts of manufacturing, trading, advertising, and storing new tobacco products - especially in the online environment.

It is necessary to supplement the legal responsibilities of social networking platforms, e-commerce platforms, and KOLs when promoting or assisting infringing products. At the same time, issue a separate guiding decree to create a clear legal basis for enforcement forces. When the law is clear, sanctions are strong enough, and there is synchronous coordination between the Ministry of Health - Ministry of Industry and Trade - Ministry of Public Security - Ministry of Information and Communications, the ban can be put into practice.

Competition to learn about the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms at High Schools in Nghe An

I highly appreciate the proposal of the Ministry of Health in the Draft Decree amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, which penalizes both the use and harboring of e-cigarettes. Businesses that allow people to smoke in public places will be fined up to 10 million VND, which is a strong step forward, significantly increasing deterrence.

- Besides legal solutions, what suggestions do you have to raise public awareness, especially among young people, about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes?

Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang: Banning by law is a necessary condition, but changing awareness is a sufficient condition. I think we need to focus on three groups of solutions.

First , include educational content on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes in the official curriculum of secondary and high schools. Students need to clearly understand the mechanism of addiction, the impact of nicotine on the heart, lungs, brain and nervous system.

Second , innovate the way of communication - move from one-way propaganda to multi-way interaction. It is necessary to take advantage of social media platforms, use positive influencers to speak their voice, in their language.

Third , promote the role of family and community. Parents need to set an example, proactively talk to their children, and identify disguised products such as pens, USBs, or cosmetics containing nicotine. When family, school, and society join together, a comprehensive "shield" can be formed against the temptation of electronic cigarettes.

- Sir, e-cigarettes are still sold widely despite the ban. What is the cause and what solutions are needed to overcome this?

Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hoang: The first reason is that the profits are too great. Many people consider this a "lucrative market" so they ignore the ban. Most of the buying and selling activities take place via Facebook, TikTok, Telegram with fake accounts, and delivery through shippers, making it difficult for authorities to control.

In addition, there is a lack of coordination among enforcement forces: market management, economic police, health, education and information and communication. There is no unified focal point, so the effectiveness of handling is limited.

Another important reason is that social awareness, especially among young people, is still low. Many students believe that e-cigarettes are "safer", "help them quit smoking", and therefore consider them a "technological toy".

According to lawyers, it is very necessary to include educational content about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes in the official curriculum of middle and high schools.

The solution is to increase penalties and criminal prosecution for smuggling and large-scale trading. Social media platforms must be held responsible if they allow advertising or trading of e-cigarettes to take place openly.

Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen control over the unofficial import routes that smuggle goods into Vietnam. When the supply is blocked, access to the product will become difficult, thereby reducing demand.

The ban is only effective when it is strictly, consistently and consistently enforced. Otherwise, e-cigarettes will continue to “hide” under the guise of technology products, continuing to poison young people. This is not just an administrative regulation, but must be seen as a national campaign on public health.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/ngan-chan-thuoc-la-dien-tu-phap-luat-manh-giao-duc-sau-phoi-hop-dong-bo-20251110091642564.htm