Almost 1.5 million people in Austria reach for a cigarette every day. Alternative products such as e-cigarettes, snus or nicotine chews are also enjoying growing popularity. On the occasion of today’s World No-Smoking Day, the Cancer Aid is calling for better protection for young people before they start smoking.
The international trend towards alternative nicotine products does not stop at Austria. Nicotine USB sticks for vaping or nicotine tea packets for chewing are touted as alternatives to cigarettes. However, because of their nicotine content, nicotine addiction persists with these products as well. These innovations are particularly interesting for young people: “We are observing a change in consumption of tobacco and nicotine products,” says Cancer Aid President Paul Sevelda. “Hookahs are consumed by Austria’s youth almost as often as ordinary cigarettes.” Thus, these new tobacco and nicotine products lead many young people to nicotine addiction.
In Austria, the commercial sale of smokeless tobacco to under-18s is prohibited, but many of these products are available online. The consumption of alternative nicotine products is not prohibited for minors and does not fall under the Narcotic Substances Act. The recent increase in cigarette prices is an opportunity for Cancer Aid President Sevelda to motivate smokers to give up nicotine: “In addition to the health improvements at an average price of six euros per pack, the financial savings are enormous if you manage to quit.” , according to Sevelda.
The price increase is also an important measure for the protection of minors. Because the monthly available money has a decisive influence on tobacco consumption: the higher the income or pocket money, the more people smoke or vape. Increasing the price of tobacco and nicotine products is therefore an important lever for young people to get started with nicotine. “This measure would make even more sense if the tobacco tax was earmarked for preventive measures for young people,” said the Cancer Aid President.
Source: Nachrichten
