Electronic cigarettes featuring candy-like flavors such as cotton candy, marshmallow, and donut are set to disappear from Czech shelves following a new amendment that took effect on December 1st. The regulation, aimed at tightening sales and labeling rules, grants retailers a seven-month grace period to clear existing stock before a complete ban on these sweet flavors and cannabinoid-containing e-cigarettes is enforced.
This move addresses alarming trends in youth vaping. A National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) survey reveals that e-cigarette usage in the general population nearly tripled over the last five years to almost 14%. Crucially, over a quarter of young people aged 15-24 use them, with the vast majority preferring candy flavors. Addiction specialist Adam Kulhánek notes that these appealing flavors, combined with attractive designs and marketing, make the products highly enticing to children while masking the smell from parents and teachers.
Experts warn that nicotine poses significant risks to adolescent brain development, affecting learning and attention. Kulhánek explains that young brains, maturing until age 25, are highly susceptible to addiction. Furthermore, e-cigarettes can deliver far higher nicotine doses than traditional cigarettes—one disposable vape can contain as much nicotine as two packs of cigarettes. With roughly one-fifth of e-cigarette users having never smoked tobacco, there are concerns these devices are creating new addicts rather than just aiding cessation.
While fruit flavors remain legal, Kulhánek believes banning specific candy and dessert profiles is a vital public health measure to protect children, citing successful precedents in countries like Canada and the UK.
