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 showing that four out of ten minors under 14 in Galicia have tried e-cigarettes, a rate significantly higher than for traditional tobacco. Health experts attribute the popularity of vapes to a lowered perception of risk, fueled by marketing that often presents them as a "solution to quit smoking."
Noa Rey Torres, a pharmacist specializing in tobacco control, warned that these products are often a "gateway to other drugs, not just conventional cigarettes." The law aims to counter this by addressing the health risks from toxic elements in e-cigarette aerosol, which have been linked to specific lung diseases like EVALI.
Furthermore, the new legislation will significantly expand smoke-free and vape-free areas. The use of both traditional cigarettes and vapes will be prohibited within a 50-meter radius of the entrances to public administration buildings, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. The ban will also extend to public transport shelters and public swimming pools to reduce public exposure to secondhand aerosol. While many responsible shopkeepers already refused to sell these products to minors, this law provides a clear legal framework and enforcement mechanism to protect the region's youth.
