Regulating E-cigarettes in India: A conundrum for the global giant in tobacco production

Electronic cigarettes which are termed as e-cigarettes, e-cigs or e-vaporizers are used by the people for creating the inhalable aerosol which carries nicotine in it. Also, commonly referred as vaping. E-cigarettes are used as an alternative to the regular cigarettes and aids in the cessation of smoking. However, there has been tough strife and debate regarding e-cigarettes that are accompanied in the media stories which bring different opinions among consumers, experts as well as regulators who are involved in making decisions from no regulation to regulating e-cigarettes to banning of e-cigarettes which will bring direct impact on public health. In this article, an overview about the controversy of e-cigarettes with respect to the device, its market, regulation norms of e-cigarettes at different platforms and amidst the debate over e-cigarettes banning in India has been portrayed. It is surveyed that India being a hub of around 110 million tobacco smokers and a global giant in tobacco production, where the Indian government is planning to bring a complete ban over e-cigarettes throughout the country propels an elementary question of banning safer alternatives and not regular cigarettes which makes no sense from the point of banning e-cigarettes until or unless regular cigarettes are banned. Varying point of views from experts, scientists, users with respect to e-cigarettes has been addressed which shares a mix opinion with the supporters promoting ban as well as the antagonist with the concept of regulating the e-cigarettes in India.