A ban on online vape sales and flavours in the Netherlands has been ineffective, a new survey has revealed.
The poll by Dutch vaping consumer association ACVODA found that since the ban came into force on January 1, 2024, most vapers (80 per cent) have simply switched to buying vapes from other countries or online.
ACVODA said:
“This cannot be the intention of the current Dutch policy, which now only affects adult users. The ban on flavours is missing the mark. A number of permitted flavours and better enforcement would be a step in the right direction.”
The new research among adult Dutch vape users, with an average age of 52, shows that the flavour ban has not changed their use of vapes. It found that 50 per cent now travel to neighbouring countries to buy them and 30 per cent order online or via social media sellers based abroad.
Tobacco is now the only flavour of vape legally available in the Netherlands - but only two per cent of vapers polled said they use it.
A tenth have switched back to smoking
Almost half (44.4 per cent) of respondents said they started vaping to quit smoking. But since the new laws came into force, just under 10 per cent have switched back to the far more dangerous habit.
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and vapers who responded to a public consultation warned the Dutch government about the negative consequences of the new law.
But the government pushed through the flavour ban and the obligation to only allow 16 ingredients in vapes.
ACVODA said: “It has now become impossible to buy the desired legal product in the Netherlands and use it as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. There are hardly any specialist shops left where good information can be found. The average vaper, of whom more than 98 per cent previously smoked cigarettes, felt little need to reach for tobacco with the flavours.
“It doesn't look like things will change anytime soon. Only 2.5 per cent of e-cigarette users want to quit in the short term (this year). More than 46 per cent do not want to quit e-cigarettes at all and think that the government makes it extremely difficult for adults to switch to a proven less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They indicate that they have actually benefited from switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes.
“The government is now making it impossible to buy a legal and safe product of preference in the Netherlands. The vast majority of respondents state that the restriction and ban on alternatives reduces the step to cigarettes instead of increasing it - after all, there is no longer an option to satisfy the pleasure of nicotine in a less harmful way.
“While eight out of 10 people say they have quit thanks to e-cigarettes, the flavour ban has ensured that almost 10 per cent of vapers have fallen back on smoking cigarettes due to a lack of alternatives.”
