Disposable vaping devices have become increasingly popular in recent years, largely due to their convenience, discreet design, and affordability—offering 600 to 700 puffs for around €7.
Unlike traditional cigarettes, these devices come in a variety of flavours such as pineapple, cola, and vanilla, which appeal particularly to younger users, including those who might otherwise avoid smoking. In contrast, refillable devices tend to be bulkier, more expensive, and less user-friendly.
While some view e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative for those looking to quit smoking, questions remain about their safety.
Although users of both rechargeable and disposable e-cigarettes avoid the carcinogenic effects of tobacco, these products still contain nicotine, a substance known for its high addictive potential.
“Young people are particularly sensitive to nicotine,” explains Lex Schaul, Head of Prevention at the Luxembourg Cancer Foundation. “In the short term, they may experience symptoms like headaches or nausea due to excessive nicotine intake. In the long term, there could be brain development issues, potentially leading to concentration problems.”
The Luxembourg Cancer Foundation and the National Centre for Addiction Prevention (CNAPA) share a significant concern: in the long term, vaping could serve as a gateway for young people to start smoking traditional cigarettes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that young people who vape are up to three times more likely to eventually smoke tobacco compared to those who abstain from both. And this, in turn, brings the discussion back to the risks of cancer linked to tobacco use, stresses Margot Heirendt, Director of the Cancer Foundation.
In Luxembourg, the sale of electronic cigarettes and vapes to minors is already prohibited. However, both CNAPA and the Cancer Foundation are advocating for a complete ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes. Heirendt dismisses concerns that consumers would simply purchase these products abroad: “In Belgium, they will be banned from 1 January 2025 and in France, they are already banned. I think we’re fortunate that our neighbouring countries are leading the way. Luxembourg should follow the same path.”
A ban would also be beneficial from an environmental perspective. Most e-cigarettes are powered by lithium batteries, and disposable vapes, in particular, pose a significant environmental burden.
Despite calls from concerned associations for a total ban on vapes, Minister for Health and Social Security Martine Deprez points to a new European directive currently being transposed into national law, Draft Bill 8333. This tobacco directive proposes treating these new products in the same way as traditional tobacco products, meaning that while the sale to minors would be prohibited, the sale of vapes themselves would not be banned.
Minister Deprez explains the government’s position by highlighting that they are waiting for further developments at the European level, which she expects “in the next few years.” She also acknowledges the risks associated with these products, stating that “they are indeed dangerous.”
For now, the government intends to implement “the directive, and nothing but the directive.” However, Deprez noted that the Chamber of Deputies would be free to propose stricter regulations during discussions on Draft Bill 8333.
