Vaping accessibility crisis: Students turn to E-Cigarettes to cope with exam pressure

Season’s greetings decorations have already gone up, sprinkling some excitement to lift off the pressures of year-end fatigue.

Unfortunately for students, one more hurdle stands in the way – dreadful exams, which have seen many resorting to vaping to cope with the associated stress.

The Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) has recently expressed concerns about the easy accessibility of vaping products to young people.

ALSO READ: Vaping industry calls on Treasury to stop e-cigarettes tax

Alarming numbers

VPASA CEO Asanda Gcoyi cited a study by the University of Cape Town Lung Institute to back up the organisation’s concern.

The study comprised about 6 000 pupils from 12 schools across three provinces revealed that 26.5% of Grade 12 pupils engaged in vaping.

Furthermore, 17.4% of Grade 11 pupils, 13% of Grade 10 pupils and 10.8% of Grade 9 pupils also used vaping products.

“While most under-age users see vaping as a stress-coping method, the growing problem lies in the youth’s easy access to vaping products,” said Gcoyi.

“This is evident as many confirm purchasing vaping products themselves, with parents often assisting them,” she added.

ALSO READ: Could vaping be a source of stress for young people?

Medical insight

Dr Catherine Egbe of the South African Medical Research Council said there’s no study available to prove popular claims vaping is safer than smoking cigarette.

“It is industry propaganda that vaping is safe,” Egbe previously told The Citizen.

“This whole thing started with the claim vaping is 95% safer than smoking, but that is not true,” she said.

The expert further explained that vaping products are currently not regulated in SA, meaning there’s not control over the import, manufacturing and marketing of these products.

READ MORE: Vaping Saved My Life is just ‘industry propaganda’

Regulatory differences

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during his budget speech, earlier this year, plans to impose an excise duty on vaping tobacco products.

Sars confirmed in April that nicotine and nicotine-substitute solutions in vaping products would be included in the tax net with a flat excise duty rate of R2.90/ml, effective from 1 June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill currently in parliament seeks to enforce stricter regulations.

Amongst other provisions, the bill aims to prohibit the sale and free distribution of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems to children.  

While welcoming some elements of the Bill, VPASA is concerned about its “unintended consequences” – which may lead to the mushrooming of informal distribution channels.  

“This will set back all efforts to restrict youth access to vaping products,” Gcoyi said.

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