Has vaping increased the share of smoking students in Latvia?
E-cigarette use among young people has risen sharply in recent years, prompting Latvia's parliament to ban flavored tobacco substitute products. Law enforcement reports continuing violations in the market.
In recent years, the use of electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vaping, has grown rapidly among schoolchildren in Latvia. Nicotine products combined with various flavorings have become part of daily life for many young people, raising concerns about rising smoking rates among the younger generation.
Legislative response
In response to this trend, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, passed a law at the start of last year banning the sale of flavored tobacco substitute products — commonly known as "flavored vapes." The goal was to reduce the appeal of these products to younger audiences, for whom sweet and fruity flavors are often one of the main reasons for starting to use e-cigarettes.
Violations persist
Despite the ban, law enforcement authorities note that shortcomings and violations are still being found in the market. This suggests that the circulation of flavored products may not have been fully stopped, raising questions about how effective enforcement has been and what real impact the ban has had on smoking habits among young people.
Whether the growing popularity of vaping has actually increased the proportion of smoking students in Latvia remains an open question, and the situation calls for continued monitoring by the responsible institutions.
