Why are e-cigarette policies in various countries becoming more stringent?

With the tightening of e-cigarette policies in various countries in 2024, the policies began to escalate at the beginning of 2025. Why do countries tighten their e-cigarette policies and take a relatively "default" attitude towards traditional cigarettes? From the answer given by DeepSeek, we can see that this phenomenon reflects the historical path dependence of public health policies, the stage differences in scientific cognition, the game of social and economic interests, and the different emphases of regulatory logic. The following is DeepSeek's specific reason analysis, which is sorted out by the editor:

1. Historical path dependence: the “fait accompli” of traditional cigarettes

Long-term social embedding: Traditional cigarettes have a history of hundreds of years, and their production and consumption have formed a huge industrial chain, tax system and consumer group. Although the harm is clear, a complete ban in the short term will lead to economic turmoil and social backlash, so policies are more inclined to "gradually reduce harm" (such as raising taxes, restricting advertising, and promoting smoking cessation).

The gradualness of tobacco control results: Over the past few decades, the global adoption of measures such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has significantly reduced smoking rates, and the regulatory framework for traditional cigarettes is relatively mature (such as packaging warnings and smoking bans in public places). However, as an emerging product (only popularized in the late 2000s), e-cigarettes have not yet formed a similar system, and the government needs to quickly fill the gap.

2. Differences in scientific cognition: “Unknown risks” and controversies of e-cigarettes

The hazards of traditional cigarettes are clear: among the tar, carbon monoxide and more than 7,000 chemicals produced by the burning of traditional tobacco, hundreds have been proven to be carcinogenic, and there is full scientific consensus on its health hazards (such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease).

Uncertainty about the harm of e-cigarettes: Although e-cigarettes do not contain tar, the addictiveness of nicotine, the harmful substances (formaldehyde, etc.) produced by the high-temperature decomposition of atomizers (such as propylene glycol and glycerin), and the safety of flavoring agents are still controversial. The long-term health effects (such as lung disease and immune system damage) have not yet been fully clarified, leading to more cautious supervision.

3. Differences in market maturity and target population

“Stock management” of traditional cigarettes: Traditional smokers are mostly middle-aged and elderly people, and the policy is mainly to “reduce the increase and encourage smoking cessation”. However, e-cigarettes, with their fashionable design, diverse flavors and “harm reduction” propaganda, directly attract teenagers and non-smokers, resulting in a surge in new users (for example, the e-cigarette use rate of American teenagers soared in the 2010s), triggering a public health emergency response.

Dual use problem: Some e-cigarette users have not completely replaced traditional cigarettes. Instead, they have engaged in “dual use” (smoking both at the same time), which has weakened the effectiveness of tobacco control and prompted the government to restrict the promotion of e-cigarettes.

4. Differences in regulatory logic: non-proliferation vs. harm reduction

Traditional cigarettes: gradual substitution and harm reduction: The policy goal is to gradually reduce traditional tobacco consumption by increasing taxes, restricting advertising and promoting alternatives (such as nicotine patches), rather than directly banning it (the social cost is too high).

E-cigarettes: Preventing the spread of new addictions: The popularity of e-cigarettes may create a new generation of nicotine addicts and even reverse the results of tobacco control. Therefore, policies are more inclined to "strict access" to avoid repeating the mistakes of traditional tobacco (such as banning flavored e-cigarettes and restricting online sales).

5. Interest game and industry lobbying

Vested interests of the traditional tobacco industry: Traditional tobacco giants have long influenced policies through lobbying and tax contributions, and many countries rely on tobacco taxes, leading to great resistance to policy reform.

New forces in the e-cigarette industry: E-cigarette companies (such as Juul) quickly occupied the market through capital expansion and marketing in the early stage, but lacked the political foundation of the traditional tobacco industry and had less regulatory resistance. At the same time, their "harm reduction" propaganda aroused the vigilance of the public health community, believing that it might weaken tobacco control efforts.

Differences in social acceptance

The stigma of traditional cigarettes is complete: after decades of propaganda, smoking is seen as a clear "bad behavior" and society is highly accepting of restrictive measures (such as no-smoking areas).

The contradictory image of e-cigarettes: E-cigarettes are often packaged as “technological products” or “fashionable lifestyles”, and the public (especially teenagers) has a vague understanding of their harms. Strict policies are needed to reshape social cognition (such as banning advertisements and regulating packaging).

Summary: Essential Differences in Policy Goals

Traditional cigarettes: have entered the "stock management" stage. The policy goal is to reduce harm through gradual means and accept the long-term nature of their gradual withdrawal from the stage of history.

E-cigarettes: In the "incremental outbreak" stage, the policy goal is to prevent new public health crises and avoid the emergence of a new generation of addicts, so high-pressure control is adopted in the early stages.

This difference is not a "double standard", but a strategic choice based on different development stages, scientific evidence and social risks. In the future, as e-cigarette research deepens, policies may be further adjusted, but the core logic will still revolve around "preventing unknown risks" and "protecting young people". E-cigarette people should pay attention to the establishment of the industry's public image in order to achieve long-term development.