Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - As the world marks World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is calling out the tobacco industry for deliberately marketing vaping products to teenagers and younger children.
On Friday May 30, CANSA will be walking with South African youth to draw attention to this alarming trend.
This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day on May 31 is Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products. It’s about revealing how the tobacco and nicotine industries make their harmful products seem attractive, particularly to young people, through manipulative marketing, appealing flavours and deceptive product designs.
CANSA, in collaboration with the South African Tobacco Free Youth Forum (SATFYF) is hosting youth-led walks in Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg to bring attention to the big tobacco companies purposefully marketing their products to youngsters.
After the walking events, CANSA and SATFYF will be submitting a memorandum of demands to parliament that demonstrate support for the formulation of the Tobacco Control Bill. The two organisations will urge the Portfolio Committee on Health to continue prioritising the health of the nation and expedite the passage of the Tobacco Pro-ducts and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.
In Johannesburg, they will be walking to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa to submit a memorandum aim-ed at raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco related products.
CANSA is warning young people and their parents, guardians and educators that vaping is not a safe option. Minenhle Dlamini, CANSA’s Tobacco Control Programme Coordinator and Social Worker, adds, “In spite of claims that vaping is a ‘harmless alternative’ to smoking, there is ever-
increasing evidence of serious health risks.
These risks include nicotine addiction, lung damage and the increased likelihood of moving onto traditional tobacco products. A new generation of nicotinedependent individuals is being created with seemingly innocent flavoured vapes and sleek, tech-inspired designs targeting young consumers.”
The problem in South Africa
A *2023 study found that 16.83% of the 25 149 South African high school students (grades 8 to 12) from 52 schools surveyed were using vaping products, while 36.71% reported having used vaping products. The odds of vaping increased by grade but did not depend on how wealthy the school was. Of those learners who vaped, 47% did so within the first hour of waking, suggesting high nicotine addiction.
South Africa’s current tobacco control policies do not effectively regulate vaping, allowing the industry to exploit legal loopholes.
Nicotine addiction among adolescents has been linked to cognitive impairment, increased anxiety and an increased risk of developing smoking-related diseases later in life.
Vape shops and online retailers often fail to verify age, making access easy for underage users.
