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— Start enforcing existing rules and don’t introduce new rules that are counterproductive, such as a ban on flavors, says Emil ‘t Hart. “Why? The e-cigarette (with flavours) can reduce the number of smokers.”
We don’t seem to be able to beat smoking. It was recently announced that the number of smokers in the Netherlands had risen by 100 thousand people last year to 2.9 million. A disgrace. How did that happen? We give smokers a clear choice: you quit or not (and you die). A middle ground, for example inveterate smokers pointing out less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes, is unthinkable for the government. Our southern neighbors are more realistic. The Superior Health Council of Belgium wants smokers who cannot quit to be made aware of e-cigarettes. A big difference with the Netherlands.