Vape, E-Cigarette Sales Bans Around the World

In the U.S., electronic nicotine delivery systems have been a public health concern for years after their introduction into the market in 2007. Monthly e-cigarette sales in the country increased from 15.5 million units in 2020 to 22.7 million in 2022, according to a recent study cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they are the most common tobacco product used by young people.

While proponents contend e-cigarettes can help users of traditional, more harmful cigarettes kick the habit, critics say the packaging of such devices – along with fruit and candy flavors they’re often offered in – target children, who can become addicted to nicotine and put themselves at risk of inhaling other harmful materials by using the devices.

CDC researchers last year published a study showing an estimated 7.7% of middle and high school students, or about 2 million in total, were current e-cigarette users in 2023. More than 60% of youth e-cigarette users used disposable vapes, with popular brands including Elf Bar and Esco Bar. In the U.K., where officials also hope to stop refillable vapes from being sold in child-friendly flavors and packaging, 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds reportedly use vapes.

The Food and Drug Administration regulates e-cigarettes in the U.S., authorizing products on a case-by-case basis that involves an assessment of the risk they’ll be used by young people. So far, the FDA has approved only 23 e-cigarette products and devices, effectively rendering unauthorized products often found on store shelves illegal and manufacturers and retailers subject to enforcement. Yet that enforcement has proved challenging: Citing data from analytics firm Circana, The Associated Press reported late last year that more than 11,500 unique vaping products were being sold in U.S. stores, up from 9,000 products in June.

Globally, as many as 121 countries or territories regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems, based on a 2023 World Health Organization report. That includes 33 countries that have moved to ban their sale, and 87 that have implemented regulations such as age restrictions on sales, bans on advertising and prohibiting vaping in public indoor areas.

Countries That Have Banned the Sale of Vapes/Electronic Cigarettes:

According to the report, 74 countries with a total population of more than 2 billion people have no regulations in place regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems, with 40% of middle-income countries and 79% of low-income countries taking no regulatory action.