“A pediatric epidemic is underway”, worries Loïc Josseran, professor of public health and president of the French Alliance against tobacco. While the “puffs” (from English “taffe” or “puff”) arrived on the French market during the summer of 2021, a survey conducted on the Internet from July 4 to 20, 2022 among a sample of 400 adolescents aged 13 to 16 by the Alliance against tobacco figures for the first time the use of these disposable electronic cigarettes in young adolescents: 13% have already tested the puff and 9% even indicate having already purchased some.
Since March, the sale of these products – like any vaping product – has been strictly prohibited for minors. And yet, puffs remain widely available in tobacconists, and even in supermarkets, even if the illegal sale exposes traders to fines of up to 100,000 euros. “Despite the regulations in force […]manufacturers or retailers do not hesitate to deploy aggressive marketing strategies aimed at young people on social networks”says the survey.
According to the survey, more than half of teenagers have a positive image of puff, even though 63% of them find it expensive (between 8 and 12 euros). 61% of them affirm that this electronic cigarette makes it possible to discover original tastes, and 52% underline the playful side of this disposable cigarette.
Puffs, what are they?
Do not be fooled by their pretty colorful packaging: the “puffs” are actually disposable electronic cigarettes. Flavored with “frosted banana”, “marshmallow” or even “candy”, the “puffs” contain a few hundred puffs… and a nicotine level of between 0% and 1.7%.
Puffs: what does the law say?
In March 2022, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health published a communicated in order to remind the current legal and regulatory framework regarding advertising and sales to minors. Summers vaping products, puff-type devices are required to fulfill the regulatory obligations associated with these products:
- Notification of products before they are placed on the market to the competent authorities;
- Nicotine level below 20mg/ml, if applicable;
- Labeling;
- Prohibition of advertising and direct or indirect promotion.
“Given the observation of a strong promotion of these “Puff” type devices on social networks frequented mainly by young people, a report has been sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office under article 40 of the code of criminal procedure“, underlines the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, which also recalls that the sale to minors of these products, like any vaping product, is prohibited.
What are the dangers for teenagers?
If 76% of the teenagers questioned correctly qualify the puff as dangerous, almost the majority relativizes its risks by evaluating it as “rather dangerous” (48%) than “very dangerous” (28%).
Nevertheless, composed of nicotine salts, the puff increases the risks of developing a inflammation of the airways and can impact the cognitive acquisitions of its youngest users. Nicotine levels are also high enough to be addictive and a gateway to smoking. Indeed, among the teenagers using this product, 28% of them began their initiation to nicotine through this product.
“When it debuted in France in 2020, the puff, sold without nicotine, had a limited capacity of 300 or 600 puffs, the equivalent of one to two packs of cigarettesindicates Loïc Josseran to the Parisian. Today, there are up to 2,000 puffs […] with 0.7%, 0.9% or even 5%.”
Even without nicotine, “puffs” are to be avoided! Even with a low dose of nicotine, “puffs” can cause addiction: “an addiction will quickly set in, especially since the brain is youngalready affirmed Dr. Loïc Josseran to our colleagues from West France in January 2022. And when they will not have their dose, some [jeunes] will be lacking. This product will lead these young people, just college students, towards a long-term cigarette consumption.“According to the tobacco specialist, the non-dangerousness of the e-liquids found in electronic cigarettes has not (to date) been demonstrated; moreover, even without nicotine, the “puffs” can lead to a habit -to the act of smoking.
Doctor’s advice? “[Il faut] that parents are more attentive to this electronic cigarette of a new kind. It’s not a big pencil or a candy, but a nicotine machine.“
Puffs: should they be banned?
If it is today prohibited to minors, the latter nevertheless have no problem to provide it. “They are everywhere today, even in supermarkets, the height of trivialization“, annoys the president of the French Alliance against tobacco.
“This product is an insult to youth, they are presented with a gadget that intoxicates them. In addition, its shape is totally discreet“, he denounces, demanding at the same time a ban on puff.
Sources:
- The Ministry of Solidarity and Health attentive to “Puff” type vaping products and compliance with legal obligations concerning advertising and sale to minors, Ministry of Health and Prevention, March 17, 2022
- Press release Alliance Against Tobacco: 1 in 10 teens have used the puff, the ACT calls for an immediate ban on disposable electronic cigarettes, October 25, 2022
- Puff: the Alliance Against Tobacco calls for an “immediate ban” on the favorite cigarette of teenagers, The ParisianOctober 25, 2022