Image: Various vaping products. Photo credit: Lungile Mavundla
As vaping products become increasingly common in South Africa, health advocates are raising concerns about the growing range of nicotine products available to consumers, particularly young people.
The issue was highlighted during a World No Tobacco Day webinar hosted by the National Department of Health, where the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) outlined how the nicotine product market has expanded beyond traditional cigarettes to include vaping devices, heated tobacco products and oral nicotine pouches.
According to the NCAS, the modern nicotine landscape now consists of a wide variety of products designed to deliver nicotine, including traditional cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco, as well as smokeless products such as snuff and chewing tobacco. In recent years, newer products such as electronic cigarettes, disposable vapes, heated tobacco devices and nicotine pouches have entered the market.
The council noted that vaping products have become particularly popular due to their variety of flavours, sleek designs and ease of use. These devices use liquid solutions that are heated to create an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
Health advocates have expressed concern that sweet flavours, concealable designs, technology-focused branding and social media marketing may increase the appeal of vaping products among younger consumers.
The presentation also highlighted the emergence of oral nicotine pouches, small pouches placed under the lip that deliver nicotine without producing smoke. While often marketed as discreet and smoke-free alternatives, the NCAS warned that these products can deliver high levels of nicotine and may be difficult to detect in school or workplace environments.
Heated tobacco products, often marketed as “heat-not-burn” devices, were also identified as a growing segment of the nicotine market. Although manufacturers frequently promote these products as reduced-exposure alternatives, the NCAS stated that they still contain nicotine and expose users to potentially harmful chemicals.
The council argues that as nicotine products continue to evolve, regulations must evolve alongside them. Among the measures supported by the organisation are restrictions on advertising, stronger youth access controls, health warnings, flavour regulations and public education campaigns.
The NCAS emphasised that while nicotine products may differ in appearance and technology, preventing nicotine addiction among young people should remain a priority.
The discussion forms part of broader national conversations around the regulation of vaping and other emerging nicotine products as lawmakers consider how best to address a rapidly changing industry.