BEIJING, January 24 (TMTPOST) — Chinese state media People’s Daily has called for strict regulation on the sales of e-cigarettes online to prevent teenagers from getting into smoking.

The People's Daily is the largest newspaper group in China and an official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

The media outlet points out in a commentary that e-cigarette advertisements can be easily spotted on e-commerce platforms and even social media, which increases the exposure of  e-cigarette products to consumers. Some vendors would even advertise and sell e-cigarettes to underage consumers, People’s Daily reported. The newspaper calls for more effective actions to protect minors from smoking and addiction.

An e-cigarette is an electronic device that simulates tobacco smoking. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a chemical that is known to cause a range of health problems. Some e-cigarettes even contain more nicotine than actual cigarettes.

The State Council of China released a modified version of the Regulation on Tobacco Sales Law in November 2021, in which it is clearly stated that laws and regulations on tobacco products are applied to e-cigarette products as well. In China, it is forbidden to sell and deliberately promote tobacco products to minors. According to People’s Daily, some e-cigarette vendors will promote and sell e-cigarettes to teenagers on social media and short video platforms. The newspaper stresses that although e-cigarettes do not contain tar, but nicotine that is harmful to human bodies.

People’s Daily states in its commentary that e-cigarettes are essentially cigarettes and cause harm to health. The newspaper notes that some e-cigarettes vendors would try to deceive consumers by claiming e-cigarettes are healthy and cause no harm. Some e-cigarette brands would even market their products as cool and trendy products for young adults, trying to get the attention of young people. People’s Daily says that using e-cigarettes leads to several health conditions and addiction.