Because of its growing use, especially among young people, the Ministry of Health has been in favor of banning Puffs in France, disposable mini electronic cigarettes with sweet flavors.
[Mise à jour le 3 mai 2023 à 14h34] There “puff” is a mini disposable electronic cigarette diffusing sweet flavors (watermelon, strawberry, frozen peach…). It is more and more popular in France at teens while she is prohibited for sale to minors. But the Puff could also be banned for everyone in France. “I am in favor of banning Puff because they lead a young part of our population to smoke, which is a scourge, it is 75,000 deaths per year I remind him” defended Francis Braun on France Inter on May 3, 2022. The government will “working with parliamentarians” on a possible ban, which could appear in the next Social Security financing law or in “other laws before the end of the year” as part of the government’s new anti-smoking plan, planned for the period 2023-2028, said François Braun. To know that “2/3 of adolescents aged 13 to 16 years old have ever heard of the Puff and 13% of them have already used it” indicated thealliance against tobacco in October 2022 before explaining that she encouraged young people to smoke cigarettes. Most Puffs contain nicotine which causes brain damage and increase the addiction risklike all tobacco products. What is a “Puff”? What is the taste of this cigarette? What are the hazards ? His price ?
When will the ban on Puff cigarettes take place?
For the moment, François Braun has not mentioned any date concerning the banning of the Puff. Nevertheless, this prohibition could appear in the next Social Security financing law or in “other laws before the end of the year” 2023 as part of the government’s new anti-smoking plan, planned for the period 2023-2028, according to the Minister of Health, questioned on the subject on France Inter on May 3, 2023. Namely that the sale of Puff cigarettes is already prohibited to minors In France.
What is the definition ofa puff cigarette?
There “puff” is a mini electronic cigarette pre-filled and pre-charged, disposable, diffusing sweet aromas like candy (strawberry, pineapple, grape flavors etc.). We call puff a puff, a sudden emission of air (in English). The term comes from the vaporization of an electronic cigaretteas it looks “puff” for a puff emitted by a classic cigarette. The Puff appeared in 2019 at the UNITED STATES. She was created by two Californians, Patrick Beltran and Nick Minas, co-CEO of Puff Bar. The trend has been powered in France in particular through the Tiktok social network.
What is the composition of a Puff cigarette?
The disposable electronic cigarette consists of a resistance, a battery and e-liquid. The battery heats the coil which in turn heats the vaping liquid. According to the National Food Safety National Agency (handles), the majority of e-liquids declared on the French market are composed of a dilution medium such as propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerinsometimes water and ethanolof the nicotine and taste-imparting substances (vanillin, maltol, menthol, esters with fruity smells). We also find sugars and sweeteners (glucose/fructose, sucralose), acids used in nicotine salts and plant extracts.
What does the Puff taste like?
different sweet flavors are offered for cigarettes”puff“: red fruits, mango, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, frozen peach, marshmallow etc…
“The great danger is the risk that non-smokers will start smoking and become addicted to nicotine”
Is the Puff cigarette dangerous for health?
The puff has harmful effects on health since it contains nicotine: “THE great danger of these products is the risk that non-smokers start smoking, that they become addicted to nicotineand then start smoking real cigarettes addiction“explains Dr. Frédéric Le Guillou, pulmonologist. “Among teenagers using the Puff, 28% of them started their initiation to nicotine through this product And 17% of them then turned to another form of nicotine or tobacco product” says the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT) in a study published on October 25. “Composed of nicotine salts, the use of the Puff increases the risks of developing iinflammation of the respiratory tract and impacts cognitive acquisitions of the youngest“adds the ACT. In addition “Puff electronic cigarettes are flavored and that this is used as a marketing argument. Whileit is not known what these aromas contain“. immediately warns Dr. Frédéric Le Guillou, pulmonologist. These devices are the subject of a reporting to the General Directorate of Health (DGS) by the Fivape, vape professionals. Furthermore, you cannot control the quality of the e-liquid integrated into the disposable electronic cigarette.
Is there nicotine in the Puff?
Most puffs contain nicotine, legally up to 2% nicotine or 20mg/ml. “The main danger is the addiction to nicotine that it will trigger since these devices will deliver, in the majority of cases, a significant dose of nicotine“, warns Loïc Josserand, president of the Alliance Against Tobacco. “If this product is taken for several months, there is a 100% chance of becoming addicted to nicotine. It’s very clear” confirms Amine Benyamina, head of the psychiatry and addictology department. There are also versions of disposable electronic cigarettes without nicotine.
What is the price of a Puff?
Electronic vapers”puff” are sold between 6 and 12 euros. These disposable cigarettes are available at tobacconists but also in some supermarkets and on the Internet. “There sale to minors, of these products [les Puff]like any vaping product, is prohibited“ recalls the Ministry of Health.
Thank you to Dr Frédéric Le Guillou, pulmonologist and President of the Respiratory Health Association of France.
Sources:
– The Ministry of Solidarity and Health attentive to “Puff” type vaping products and compliance with legal obligations concerning advertising and sale to minors, March 17, 2022.
– Vaping products, ANSES, 23 October 2020