Latest news with #AvinashSunthlia
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
On World No Tobacco Day experts flag concerns about illegal promotion of new-age gateway devices endangering adolescents and the youth
On the occasion of WHO (World Health Organisation) World No Tobacco Day 2025, experts at a seminar raised serious concerns about the illegal promotion of new-age gateway devices endangering the lives of adolescents and the youth across India. The event was organised in line with the theme of the Day - Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products, Mothers Against Vaping. The experts also reinforced their commitment to spreading awareness and take decisive action against the growing threat of vapes, e-cigarettes, and other HTPs (Heated Tobacco Products). In the event, Dr Avinash Sunthlia – Deputy Additional Director General (DADG), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said 'Why is the industry using new tactics to attract our youth? Because the industry needs new users to consume these new devices so that they can be turned into lifelong consumers. Hence, despite the ban on these products through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, producers have found ways to circumvent the laws and promote e-cigarettes and vapes. They also market these devices as safer alternatives for smoking cessation, but it is about recruiting new users for a lifetime of dependence,' 'To spread awareness we have issued comprehensive guidelines for schools, initiated capacity-building programmes for teachers, and are working closely with influencers and digital creators to speak up about the dangers of vaping. We've also launched an online reporting platform that empowers everyday citizens to flag violations related to the sale or promotion of these banned devices so that prompt action can be taken. I'd like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Mothers Against Vaping for their unwavering commitment and advocacy on this critical issue', added Dr. Sunthlia. The seminar was organised at the Indian International Centre, New Delhi by Mothers Against Vaping, a united front of concerned mothers combating the escalating vaping crisis among our youth. In the event, various experts put the spotlight on the role of promotions in targeting a new generation of young users through new-age gateway devices even as Mothers Against Vaping released a report titled 'Unmasking the Appeal – How Vapes & E-Cigarettes Continue to be Promoted Unabated in India'. Jaspal Singh, Special Commissioner of Police for Protective Security, Delhi, in his keynote address, said, 'Vapes are more dangerous than cigarettes because through such devices, one can even consume hard drugs. Based on my experience, several users have confessed to using vaping equipment for hard drug intake. What makes the threat more dangerous is the way these products are promoted. Manufacturers and sellers use tactics like influencer marketing on social media to glamorise these devices and target young users while avoiding direct accountability and prosecution.' 'There has to be a proper coordination between customs authorities, police authorities, transporter associations and even courier agencies to stem the rising tide of e-cigarettes and vapes. Also important is public involvement, but for that to happen, citizens need to be aware that these devices are banned in India. Therefore, it is critical that the government launch strong awareness campaigns to inform people about the illegality and dangers of these devices", added Singh Padma Jaiswal - IAS, Secretary to the Government of the Union Territory of Puducherry, said, 'I would really like to acknowledge the great effort done by Mothers Against Vaping. I believe that such a kind of initiative and prioritisation has not been done by any civil society organisation earlier towards generating awareness of the issue.' 'The government has made the law banning vaping and e-cigarettes because it has seen from its own data that most of the users who are being affected by vaping are the adolescents who are in the schools and colleges. Being a mother myself, I am aware that vaping is rampant and the habit leaves a strong impact among the adolescents and the youth. They are attracted to these devices because they are promoted as a luxury, a style statement with the narrative that it is neither harmful nor punitive. Therefore, we need to raise the awareness that these electronic devices are banned in India,' Ms Jaiswal added. On the occasion, Mothers Against Vaping also released investigative report exposing the alleged covert strategies employed by global vaping and e-cigarette brands to infiltrate India's digital landscape, circumventing the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) of 2019. Despite the ban, these entities exploit media loopholes, leveraging digital platforms, influencer marketing, and surrogate advertising to glamorise their products . The comprehensive analysis reveals a disturbing trend: the deliberate targeting of Indian youth through social media channels. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are inundated with content portraying vaping as a trendy, harmless lifestyle choice. Influencers, often with substantial followings, are co-opted to promote these products, masking their dangers under the guise of modernity and sophistication. Influencers have emerged as stealth marketers—turning reels, reviews, and jokes into powerful tools of vape promotion. From casual endorsements masked as lifestyle content to creative smoke tricks that mimic skill, the influencer ecosystem plays a crucial role in making vaping look aspirational, trendy, and even humorous. Despite the ban, India's digital and informal markets continue to thrive in brazen defiance of the ban. Hence, the report provides for a number of recommendations as below: Immediate Actions To Stop Promotion of Vapes and E-Cigarettes Coordinate Enforcement Efforts: Establish robust coordination between cybercrime units, law enforcement agencies, and regulatory bodies to proactively monitor and identify violative digital content and actors. Initiate Legal Proceedings against Violators: Launch immediate legal action under relevant provisions of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 (PECA) and other applicable laws. Dismantle Digital Channels: Identify and issue directives for taking down social media pages, handles, and websites that promote vapes. Issue Platform Wide Directives: Direct social media companies, technology platforms and digital marketplaces, including domain service providers, to comply with Indian law by proactively detecting and preventing promotion of these banned products. Initiate action against Manufacturers and Sources: Pursue action against manufacturers, importers, and distributors who make these dangerous products available for sale. Recommendations from the report:
Mint
4 days ago
- Health
- Mint
World No Tobacco Day 2025: Experts say ‘vaping more dangerous than cigarettes,' blame ‘influencers for glamourising'
On World Tobacco Day, experts have underlined the rampant use of e-cigarettes and vapes, highlighting how sellers are promoting their use as a "luxury" and employing clever tactics to compel teenagers to buy these products. During a seminar organised against vapes, experts noted that despite the ban on these products under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, producers have found ways to circumvent the law and promote e-cigarettes and vapes. "Why is the industry using new tactics to attract our youth? Because the industry needs new users to consume these devices so that they can be turned into lifelong consumers," Avinash Sunthlia, Deputy Additional Director General (DADG), Health Ministry, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Read | Health ministry reports 350 violations of e-cigarette ban, black market thrives He added that they also market these devices as safer alternatives for smoking cessation, but it is actually about recruiting new users for a lifetime of dependence. "To spread awareness, we have issued comprehensive guidelines for schools, initiated capacity-building programmes for teachers, and are working closely with influencers and digital creators to speak up about the dangers of vaping," he said. Another expert asserted that consumption of vapes is more dangerous than cigarettes, as such devices can be used to consume hard drugs. "Based on my experience, several users have confessed to using vaping equipment for hard drug intake. What makes the threat more dangerous is the way these products are promoted. Manufacturers and sellers use tactics like influencer marketing on social media to glamourise these devices and target young users while avoiding direct accountability and prosecution," said Jaspal Singh, Special Commissioner of Police for Protective Security, Delhi. Also Read: India Inc adds health goals to appraisals Puducherry Secretary Padma Jaiswal further underlined that these devices are promoted as a "luxury" style, and most of the users affected by vapes are adolescents in schools and colleges. "Being a mother myself, I am aware that vaping is rampant, and the habit leaves a strong impact among adolescents and youth. They are attracted to these devices because they are promoted as a luxury, a style statement with the narrative that it is neither harmful nor punitive. Therefore, we need to raise awareness that these electronic devices are banned in India," she added.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
No Tobacco Day: Experts warn of youth-targeted vaping ads using influencers and misleading claims
CHENNAI: Health experts, bureaucrats and social scientists have voiced grave concerns over the strategic marketing of vaping devices to school and college students through digital influencers, surrogate advertising, and misleading safety claims. Speaking at a seminar titled "Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products", held in New Delhi on Thursday ahead of the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day 2025, experts highlighted the illegal promotion and increasing use of vapes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs) among adolescents in India. This surge persists despite a nationwide ban under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. Targeting Youth Through Gateway Devices The industry is reportedly exploiting social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to glamorise vaping as a trendy and safe lifestyle choice. According to individuals familiar with these tactics, covert promotional strategies—including the use of coded language like 'aroma sticks' and 'flavor drops'—along with influencer partnerships, are being used to bypass legal restrictions. As a result, online marketplaces and informal distribution networks continue to facilitate the sale of these products in defiance of the law, experts noted. Dr. Avinash Sunthlia, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Health, outlined ongoing efforts to combat this trend. These include school awareness programs, influencer engagement, and the launch of an online reporting platform. He emphasized the growing number of cases involving the deliberate recruitment of new consumers through glamorized promotions. Special Commissioner of Police Jaspal Singh warned that vapes pose an even greater threat than cigarettes, citing their potential use for consuming hard drugs. He called for coordinated action among law enforcement, customs officials, transporters, and courier services to curb the illegal distribution of vaping products. Padma Jaiswal, a senior bureaucrat in the Government of Puducherry, applauded the civil initiative led by Mothers Against Vaping (MAV), the NGO that organized the seminar. She emphasized the need for greater public awareness, especially among parents and youth, about the legal status and health risks of vaping.
