{"id":622,"date":"2021-11-05T20:55:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-06T00:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cccwva.wpengine.com\/?p=622"},"modified":"2022-02-05T15:12:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T20:12:55","slug":"costa-rica-approves-ban-on-vaping-in-public-places","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldvapersalliance.com\/en_gb\/costa-rica-approves-ban-on-vaping-in-public-places\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica Approves Ban on Vaping in Public Places"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year, Costa Rica\u2019s Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, voiced his support towards a\u00a0ban on the use of vaping devices in public spaces, which has now been approved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Speaking to the deputies of the Committee on Social Affairs, earlier this year, Salas said that Bill\u00a021.658, which would set the regulations in question in place, has his full support. \u201cI think this project is extremely important for the country. It has the full support of the Ministry of Health,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is completely in line with the health alert we\u00a0already issued\u00a0regarding the use of vaping devices, where we have even been very clear that there is no study that can show e-cigarettes are a smoking cessation therapy. On the contrary, we have to dis-incentivize the use of cigarettes and the use of vaporizers,\u201d\u00a0 added Salas inaccurately.<\/p>\n

The bill has now been approved with 33 votes in favour and seven against. Besides banning to use of vaping products in most public spaces, the bill also suggests a tax on electronic devices. Sadly, Salas\u00a0inaccurately\u00a0stated that to date there is no study indicating that the products are effective smoking cessation tools.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this project is extremely important for the country. It has the full support of the Ministry of Health,\u201d Salas said. \u201cIt is completely in line with the health alert we\u00a0already issued\u00a0regarding the use of vaping devices, where we have even been very clear that there is no study that can show e-cigarettes are a smoking cessation therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vapes\u2019 potential role in decreasing Australia\u2019s stalled smoking rates
\nIn contrast to this, a\u00a0scientific review\u00a0from Australia, has in line with previous similar studies, indicated that vaping nicotine-containing e-cigs is effective for smoking cessation and could reduce smoking rates substantially.<\/p>\n

The peer-reviewed study titled, \u201cCould vaping help lower smoking rates in Australia?\u201d was co authored by Australian academics Conjoint Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn, Professor Wayne Hall and Professor Ron Borland. It found that vaping could play an essential role in decreasing Australia\u2019s stalled smoking rates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is evidence that vaping has increased quit attempts and reduced national smoking rates in the UK and USA, where the decline in prevalence of smoking has accelerated. This contrasts with countries such as Australia with restrictive vaping policies where such declines in prevalence are not being observed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UK has been a leader in endorsing the use of safer alternatives to reduce tobacco harm, and local smoking rates are reflecting this. Earlier this year, the UK\u2019s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has officially recognized and recommended as smoking cessation tools. A press release by the World Vapers\u2019 Alliance (WVA) welcomed the development. \u201cThe draft\u00a0new guidelines on how to effectively help smokers to quit, state that:<\/p>\n