Calls for stricter vaping regulations amid rising trend among pupils

Following alarming vaping trends among matriculants at affluent schools, industry experts are advocating for the speedy implementation of vaping regulations, despite manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of smoke-free vapour products in SA crying foul.

The Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA), said while it welcomed some elements of the draft Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, it was worried about the unintended consequences of the Bill.

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“[These] may lead to the mushrooming of informal channels that fall outside the regulatory net,” according to VPASA chief executive officer Asanda Gcoyi, who added that this would set back all efforts to restrict youth access to vaping products.

E-cigarettes not regulated

The National Council Against Smoking’s Dr Sharon Nyatsanza said VPASA rejecting the Bill in its entirety was an industry misrepresentation because their call to protect young people from nicotine addiction didn’t help as their product – flavours and packaging – were aimed at attracting the same young people.

“For the past 15 years, e-cigarettes have not been regulated in South Africa. They can be sold anywhere and can be packaged in any manner,” she added.

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“They can come in whatever flavour. So the problem is that e-cigarettes are not regulated and we don’t even know the ingredients. No-one is controlling anything. Anyone can sell e-cigarettes.

“There’s been a surge in Cape Town after a study was done [of pupils] between Grades 8 and 12 and they found within (that range), 60% of them vaped within the first hour of waking up – that means they are addicted.

“And 23% of them were saying they can’t go through a school day without vaping,” Gcoyi said.

“Teachers are concerned about vaping in schools. So it is a reality that it is a problem of child vaping.”

According to a principal in a Pretoria school, who did not want to be named due to fear of victimisation, “it has become a major problem, because it has turned into some sort of trend”.

“I’ve seen pupils do it on social media, after school, during break and it is clearly an addiction,” he said.

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“According to a study that I read recently, nicotine levels in the vaping liquids the pupils are inhaling are exceptionally high. This is because of the pleasant flavours vapes offer.

“Pupils are exposing themselves to higher nicotine levels than what they would be if they were to smoke the odd cigarette. Just because we do not know the ingredients doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous,” the principal said.

Vaping on code of conduct

Basic education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed the crisis and said school governing bodies have added the issue of vaping on their code of conduct “so that we deal with it like they deal with other substances used by pupils”.

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“We also appeal to parents to help, because they are the ones who give the children money to buy these products and bring them to school. We can deal with it during school hours, but it doesn’t help if they are allowed to do it elsewhere,” said Mhlanga.

Matakanye, Matakanya National Association of School Governing Bodies general secretary, said they had not received many complaints from teachers and parents about pupils who vape. However, they were aware that “vaping is a major problem because it intoxicates those who smoke it”.

“Pupils who vape create problems for teachers. We have not received many complaints from teachers but we know that children are vaping,” Matakanya said.

Meanwhile, VPASA has urged all stakeholders to play their part in restricting youth access to vaping products.

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“This includes vaping shops, government, the media, parents, schools and law enforcement. Efforts against underage vaping require a coordinated and collaborative effort if they are to succeed,” said the nongovernmental organisation.

– reitumetsem@citizen.co.za