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- Speaking at a seminar ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, Swati Maliwal identified five reasons why society must worry about the rising threat of vapes and related nicotine products
- Experts identified the continuing supply of these products despite a ban in India as a major cause of concern
- Experts called for greater collaboration among the scientific community and social stakeholders to raise awareness among children, parents, and educators about all forms of novel nicotine products, referred to as “nicotinoids”
- Call for inclusion of information about the hazards of vapes and novel nicotine products in NCERT curricula to build an early culture of prohibition
New Delhi, 28 May 2026: Raising concerns over the growing normalisation of vaping among children and adolescents, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Ms. Swati Maliwal on Thursday said rising violations related to vaping — including instances involving influencers and public figures — need to be taken up far more strictly at the policy and enforcement level. She warned that vaping is increasingly emerging as a “new-age gateway addiction”, with sleek designs, flavours, and social media visibility making these products appear aspirational and harmless to young people.
The remarks were made at a national seminar organised by Mothers Against Vaping (MAV) on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2026. The seminar, titled “Unmasking the Appeal: Protecting Children from New-Age Gateway Products”, brought together leading voices from healthcare, science, education, law enforcement, and public policy to discuss the growing threat posed by vaping devices, nicotine pouches, synthetic nicotine products, and similar emerging nicotine delivery systems targeting children and youth.
The seminar witnessed participation from several eminent experts and stakeholders including Dr. Raj Kumar, Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi; Dr. Shalini Singh, Director & Scientist G, National Institute of Cancer Prevention & Research, ICMR; Dr. Kanika Malik, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR–NIScPR; Dr. Rekha Rani, Asst. Professor, DEPFE, NCERT, Manodarpan Initiative; Dr. Ajay Kumar Pandey, Advocate, Supreme Court of India; Dr. D. K. Gupta, Chairman, Felix Hospital; Dr. Rashmi Gupta, Director, Felix Hospital; Dr. Bhavna Barmi, Psychologist & Founder, Happiness Studio; Dr. Ajeet Yadav, MD Pathology.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Ms. Maliwal said, “The biggest danger lies in the invisibility and normalisation of these products among adolescents. What makes these new-age nicotine devices especially dangerous is that they do not look dangerous at all. They are designed to appear fashionable, harmless, and socially acceptable to children and teenagers. But behind the flavours, sleek designs, and social media trends lies a serious public health threat.
Today, we are increasingly seeing vaping violations in public spaces and among influential figures. Whether it is influencers promoting vape culture online, public personalities being seen vaping, or even instances of vaping inside important institutions, these incidents send a dangerous message to young people and contribute to the normalisation of addiction. India has already taken a strong legislative step through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, but enforcement and public awareness now need to become much stronger.”
Ms. Maliwal further outlined five reasons why the society should worry about vapes and related e-cigarettes:
- Damage to adolescent brain development and increased long-term addiction risk
- Severe lung injury and respiratory complications
- Cardiovascular damage and increased heart-related risks
- Exposure to carcinogenic substances with long-term health consequences
- Growing mental health dependency and nicotine addiction among teenagers
In a chat during the event, Dr. Shalini Singh, Director & Scientist G, National Institute of Cancer Prevention & Research, ICMR, said, “One of the most significant findings while examining scientific literature around vaping was that many studies positioning these products as ‘harm reduction’ tools or ‘safer alternatives’ were affected by clear conflicts of interest, including direct or indirect links to the tobacco industry. A large number of narratives around vaping being less harmful have been shaped through industry-sponsored research and selective interpretation of evidence. When ICMR independently reviewed the available scientific data and excluded studies influenced by such conflicts, we found strong scientific merit in banning this entire class of products.”
She added that misinformation around novel nicotine products is spreading much faster than scientific awareness, especially among young people who are being exposed to these products through digital platforms, influencer culture, and aspirational marketing. Dr. Singh stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the scientific community, social scientists, educators, parents, and welfare organisations to collectively counter misinformation and build greater awareness around the risks associated with novel nicotine products and emerging forms of addiction.
Experts at the seminar also cautioned that all forms of novel nicotine products — referred to by several speakers as “nicotinoids” — pose a growing public health threat. Discussions highlighted that these products continue to evolve in form and delivery mechanisms, often outpacing public awareness and regulation. Experts also noted that even the long-term efficacy and public health implications of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for cessation continue to remain under scientific review, underlining the need for greater caution and evidence-based regulation around all nicotine-linked products.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Raj Kumar, Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, stressed that vaping is often wrongly perceived as harmless, particularly among young people experimenting under peer pressure or curiosity.
“What is deeply concerning is that many young people are experimenting with vaping out of curiosity, peer pressure, or the perception that it is fashionable and harmless. But addiction often begins with that very first puff. These devices are being marketed in attractive forms and flavours that deliberately appeal to younger users while masking the serious health risks involved,” Dr. Raj Kumar said.
He added that medical professionals are increasingly witnessing respiratory complications and early dependency patterns associated with vaping among young users, while the long-term health consequences remain insufficiently understood.
The seminar also highlighted the need for stronger enforcement against illicit sales networks, greater accountability from digital platforms, school-level awareness initiatives, and coordinated action involving parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement agencies.
The discussions concluded with a shared call for sustained public awareness and a stronger societal response to prevent a new generation of children from being drawn into nicotine dependency through modern, technology-driven gateway products.
