Overview
- WHO estimates 7.2% of 13–15-year-olds currently use e‑cigarettes, with youth use in some countries far exceeding adult rates, and researchers warn adolescents are highly susceptible to nicotine’s cognitive and addiction harms.
- The analysis argues the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control impose duties to prevent e‑cigarette use among minors.
- Despite those obligations, the authors note that 62 countries still have no regulation governing e‑cigarettes.
- WHO-recommended options include outright sales bans or, where permitted, strict age enforcement, advertising and retail display bans, plain packaging, and restrictions on flavors to reduce youth appeal.
- The authors highlight enforcement hurdles tied to social media marketing and cross‑border e‑commerce and criticize industry claims that stronger rules would undermine harm reduction for adult smokers.