Mengapa vape dilarang di Singapura?
Vape dilarang di Singapura karena dianggap berbahaya bagi kesehatan. Meskipun tampilannya menarik, dengan desain yang modern dan rasa yang manis atau buah-buahan, vape tetap berfungsi utama untuk mengantarkan nikotin, zat yang sangat adiktif. Penggunaan nikotin dapat menyebabkan efek samping langsung seperti peningkatan detak jantung, tekanan darah tinggi, mual, diare, dan keringat berlebihan. Lebih serius lagi, paparan nikotin pada remaja bisa menyebabkan gangguan permanen pada perkembangan otak, seperti masalah kontrol impuls, kesulitan belajar, gangguan konsentrasi, hingga gangguan suasana hati.
Selain itu, e-vaporiser atau vape mengandung berbagai zat berbahaya seperti partikel halus (PM), zat karsinogenik seperti karbonil, serta senyawa organik volatil seperti formaldehida dan benzena. Vape juga diketahui mengandung logam berat beracun seperti timah, timbal, dan nikel yang berbahaya bagi tubuh.
Karena risiko kesehatan ini, sejak 1 Februari 2018, pemerintah Singapura melarang kepemilikan, penggunaan, pembelian, serta penjualan vape. Larangan ini juga mencakup impor dan distribusinya. Singapura termasuk salah satu dari 39 negara di dunia yang telah melarang penggunaan vape sepenuhnya, berbeda dengan 82 negara lainnya yang hanya mengatur penjualannya.
Di Singapura, larangan ini berlaku di mana saja, baik di tempat umum maupun pribadi. Siapa pun yang melanggar aturan ini akan dikenakan sanksi hukum.
Dirangkum oleh: Yoseph Leonardo Samodra
Electronic vaporisers, also known as e-cigarettes, e-vaporisers, or vapes, are devices that heat and vaporise a liquid solution (e-liquid) for inhalation. These devices often contain harmful chemicals, including fine particulate matter (PM), cancer-causing agents like carbonyls, and volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene. In addition, dangerous heavy metals like tin, lead, and nickel have been detected in e-vaporisers, making them hazardous to health.
Despite their colourful, sleek designs and sweet, fruity flavours, the primary function of e-vaporisers is to dispense nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Nicotine use can cause immediate side effects, including increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and diarrhoea. More concerningly, nicotine exposure during adolescence can have long-term effects on brain development, impairing impulse control, learning, focus, and increasing the risk of mood disorders.
In Singapore, the purchase, possession, and use of emerging and imitation tobacco products, including e-vaporisers, have been prohibited since 1 February 2018. This complements earlier bans on the importation, sale, and distribution of such products. Vaping is illegal in Singapore, whether done in private or public, and offenders are subject to penalties. Singapore is one of 39 countries that have banned e-vaporisers, contrasting with 82 countries that regulate their sale and distribution.
References:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-vape-ban-policy-harm-chemical-nicotine-addiction-4334461
https://www.hsa.gov.sg/tobacco-regulation/vaping-enforcement
https://www.nus.edu.sg/uhc/articles/details/debunking-law-related-mistruths-regarding-vaping
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