MEVTA aims to curb sale of vape products to minors

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia E- Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association (MEVTA) hopes to curb the use and sale of vape products to underage school
children.
Its president Allan Foo said the association had launched an awareness campaign on "Prohibition of the sale of vape products to those below 18 years of age," on Sept 9, 2015.
According to the association, vape is an alternative method for heavy smokers, who have been trying to get rid off the habit.
"We are not encouraging non-smokers to pick up vapor.
"We are encouraging smokers to pick up the vape habit and eventually stop smoking," said Foo during a press conference held at the Saloma restaurant at Jalan Ampang here.
He said the use of e-vapor has increased tremendously over the past few months.
Foo said currently there are about 250,000 to 300,000 e-vapor smokers in Malaysia.
When asked if regulations on cigarette advertisements should apply to vapor, Foo said MEVTA's stand is that there should not be a blanket ban, because then there would be no platform to educate the public that vape is an alternative to smoking cigarettes.
Foo added that vapor should not be promoted as a "lifestyle product", adding that it should be promoted as an alternative to smoking instead.