Author: moonswamp

Russia is taking a decisive step towards a potential nationwide ban on vaping, with the Nizhny Novgorod region set to become the first "test site" for a complete prohibition on the sale and use of vapes, e-cigarettes, and similar products. The initiative, proposed by Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin, has reportedly received the support of President Vladimir Putin. Governor Nikitin argued that the ban is necessary to protect the younger generation from the allure of vaping. He cited the appeal of bright flavors and the false perception of safety as reasons why adolescents who have never smoked traditional cigarettes are…

As thousands of tourists, including many from the UK, prepare to visit the Spanish coastline for the summer season, a crucial warning has been issued regarding the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) on beaches. While national law in Spain generally permits vaping in outdoor spaces, a growing number of local councils are independently expanding their "smoke-free" beach regulations to explicitly include vaping devices. Unsuspecting travelers who assume vaping is permitted everywhere could face significant fines, with some municipalities imposing penalties as high as €2,000 for violations. The key point of confusion for many visitors is the distinction between national law…

Brazil's National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, has ordered all e-commerce platforms and social media sites to remove any advertisements and content related to the sale of electronic cigarettes (vapes) within 48 hours. Major platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Mercado Livre have been formally notified. The directive, issued last Tuesday (19th), emphasizes that Brazilian law prohibits not only the sale but also the advertising of these devices, also known as Electronic Smoking Devices (DEFs). The notified companies have ten business days to submit a detailed report on the measures they have taken, which…

Singapore is set to impose much more severe penalties for vape-related offenses, including potential prison sentences for serious violations, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday (Aug 18, 2025). The government plans to treat the issue with the same gravity as drug offenses. "So far we have treated vaping like tobacco — at most we only give a fine, but that is no longer enough. We will treat this as a drug problem and impose much harsher penalties," Wong stated. While vaping is already illegal in Singapore, the move comes after health authorities discovered that one-third of seized illegal vapes…

Public health officials in Catalonia, a popular Spanish holiday region, are advocating for a comprehensive ban on smoking at all beaches to prevent the habit from being normalized among young people. This regional push comes as Spain's national government is already drafting legislation to significantly expand smoke-free and vape-free zones across the country. Esteve Fernandez, Catalonia's public health secretary, insisted, "It should not be expected for a child to think it is normal to smoke on the beach as if it were similar to swimming or playing with a ball." The city of Barcelona, the regional capital, already implemented a…

Russia has significantly toughened its stance on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes and vape liquids, with a new law taking effect on August 3rd that introduces criminal liability for the circulation of all unmarked nicotine-containing products. This measure extends penalties, previously focused on traditional tobacco, to include vapes, aiming to bring the burgeoning market out of the shadows and curb tax evasion. Under the new law, businesses face severe consequences for handling unmarked vape products with a value exceeding 100,000 rubles. Penalties can include fines up to 500,000 rubles, forced labor, or imprisonment for up to three years. Forging the…

Austria is planning a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes, with the new regulation expected to take effect as early as 2026. State Secretary for Health Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig announced the move, citing both public health and environmental concerns. "We have a real problem with these single-use e-cigarettes, that they are specifically aimed at young people, also because of the flavorings they contain," she stated. Königsberger-Ludwig also highlighted the "serious problem" of disposal, as the non-removable lithium-ion batteries in these devices pose a significant fire risk in waste management facilities when improperly discarded. The proposal has been welcomed by the Association of…

A new bill filed in the Colombian Congress by Conservative Party Representative Wadith Manzur seeks to impose two new taxes on vaping products, aiming to raise over $390 billion pesos in its first year. The initiative, expected to be debated starting August 20th, aims to protect public health, particularly among youth, by increasing the cost and control of these devices. The proposal would expand the existing consumption tax on traditional cigarettes to include all non-combustible nicotine and tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and the devices required for their use. Manzur explained the bill establishes two new taxes for…

The regional government of Galicia, Spain, has approved a new draft law aimed at preventing addictive behaviors among youth, with a primary focus on prohibiting the sale and use of vapes (e-cigarettes) by anyone under the age of 18. The government intends for the law, which is part of a broader public health initiative, to take effect before the end of the year. A central provision of this new framework is to legally equate vapes with conventional tobacco products, thereby prohibiting their sale to and use by children and adolescents. This measure is a direct response to alarming local statistics…

A new draft law, No. 13548, has been registered in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (parliament), proposing a complete and comprehensive ban on the production, importation, wholesale and retail trade, and circulation of all electronic cigarettes, refill containers, and their liquids within the country. The bill's authors state its primary goal is to protect the health of the Ukrainian population, particularly its youth. The push for a total prohibition is fueled by alarming statistics on youth vaping. According to surveys, nearly one in five adolescents aged 13-15 (around 20%) are current e-cigarette users, and 40% have tried them at least once. Among…