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Chinese Children Learning To Smoke With Candy Flavored E-Cigarettes

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In the West, e-cigarettes are promoted as a way to quit smoking. But in China, “vaping” is a new way to get children hooked on the habit.

China is the world's biggest tobacco producer and consumer; more than half of Chinese men are smokers. And they start young. The average age at which Chinese people start smoking is under 11.

Now, youngsters are being targeted by electronic cigarettes, too.

At present the sale and use of e-cigarettes is unregulated in China, the Economist said in a report about the increased interest in e-cigs.

E-cigarettes are being branded as trendy in China, and not primarily as aids for quitting, the report said. Women, who only accounts for 3% of all smokers in China, is a new target group. So, it seems, are children.

Candy-flavored versions are sold to children for as little as 15-20 yuan ($2.5-3), the report said. A young boy puffing away on a vapor device illustrates the article.

“Some campaigners worry that e-cigarettes are gaining popularity in China before awareness of tobacco’s dangers has become widespread,” the report said.

In Hong Kong, there are over 8,000 flavors targeting the youngsters, a local health watchdog recently said in a report. Researchers at Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health warned that e-cigarettes targeting youngsters could fuel a new addiction and lead to “tobacco epidemic.”

The group recommend a total ban.

The debate over candy flavored e-cigarettes have raged in the U.S., too. "Anyone who has only tried flavored e-cigs and then tries a real cigarette would likely be appalled at how harsh the smoke is and how bad it tastes," one netizen argued. Others commentator said that “candy flavored e-cigs are designed to addict a new generation to nicotine.”