‘Vapen has unjustified and had an innocent image for too long’

Preventing children and young people from getting vapen, helping them stop when they have started, and combating the illegal trade in Vapes. These are the most important points in the action plan against Vapen, which State Secretary Vincent Karremans (Prevention, Youth and Sport, VVD) presented on Wednesday afternoon at Segbroek College in The Hague.

In his plan, Karremans writes about “an alarming increase” of the number of people of vaping. The list of worrying figures Seems endless. Of the twelve to sixteen-year-old students, 25 percent ever used a Vape (electronic cigarette). Among twelve -year -olds are already 9 percent. More than 3 percent of the boys do it daily, girls are almost 5 percent. Girls vapen more often than guys.

Almost four in ten young people who Vapen do not know either and how much nicotine is in their vape, it turned out on Monday From research from the Trimbos Institute. Two thirds do not feel addicted and does not attempt to stop. As with smoking, social influence and curiosity play an important role to start the e-cigarette. Vapen is also popular because of the colors and the tasty flavors. Once addicted, 70 percent of them will switch to cigarettes later.

The number of smoking students fell for years, but stabilized from 2017. The Rutte III cabinet and social organizations concluded the National Prevention Agreement, in which it was agreed that in 2040 no young person may smoke anymore. But that will be unaccompanied.

Karremans blames the tobacco industry with always new nicotine products for young people: “That is very reprehensible,” he writes. “Use of Nicotine damages the developing brain and can lead to a persistent addiction at a young age. Young people are less resilient against temptations that are harmful to them. “

Innocent image

To prevent young people from going to vapen, a large information campaign will start on 12 May that should make it clear to parents how harmful vapen is. They have to discuss this with their children again. Vapen has “had an innocent image and too long,” writes Karremans in his action plan. In December last year it turned out that at least fourteen children had to go to the hospital in 2024 because they were given complaints by vapen.

From 2026, Vapes may only be sold at specialty shops and they will receive neutral packaging. In places where many children come, Vapen is prohibited. There will also be an investigation into increasing the age limit of cigarettes and vapes into 21 years.

A total prohibition ban from Vapes (the minimum age is now 18 years) is not possible, according to Karremans, because European laws do not allow that. According to him, it would also make little sense, “because it remains fairly easy to buy these products across the border.”

To encourage young people to stop Vapen, the Trimbos Institute gets extra money to bundle knowledge about it and to adjust ‘stop processes’ for smokers so that they also work better for Vapers. Research must make clear whether the tobacco industry can be obliged to put part of the turnover or profit in a ‘preventive fund’.

Illegal trade

High on Karremans’ list is combating the illegal trade. Measures to prevent Vapen seem to be ineffective so far: Vapes with a taste – forbidden since 1 January 2024, only Vapes with tobacco flavor are still allowed – are under the counter, via foreign web shops, street trade and social media as Snapchat easy to get. Karremans mentions as an example “an entrepreneur who no longer sells vapes with flavors, but still sees how illegal Vapes are sent through his package point. That is emphatically not the intention. “

The VVD member therefore allocates an additional 3 million euros annually for extra enforcement by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). This is possible, for example, through better cooperation with customs, but also by finding out user data of people on social media who trades Vapes. The fine for online sales (now 1,360 euros) goes up by around 50 percent, having large stocks of vapes with a taste is prohibited.

Karremans emphasizes in his plan that “the government cannot solve it alone. That has to be done with parents, teachers and healthcare providers. ” He is aware that the government is considering the individual freedom of citizens, he told the Senate in September. “It is looking for a balance: on the one hand leaving the freedom of choice to individual consumers, on the other hand as a government ensure a healthy generation. I don’t want a steaming generation, but a sporting, fit and healthy generation. That is worth a lot to me. “

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