Banned Vapes Still Available on Social Media Platforms

Hyderabad: One DM that is all it takes to score a banned vape in Hyderabad. Despite 2019 ban, these candy-coloured vapes are not just feeding the city’s underground vaping market, but are also becoming a major accessory during festivals like Holi, New Year, and college fests.

Despite legal restrictions, e-cigarettes are being sold and delivered discreetly in the city through various platforms such as Instagram, Telegram and several other websites, with many vendors offering flavoured vapes and even same-day delivery.

What is appalling is that these websites often skip age verification, with many offering designs, colours and flavours purely to hook young users.

A reality check conducted by Deccan Chronicle manually identified 15 such websites. The search engine was “vapes” in Hyderabad. Apart from websites, several Instagram pages and Telegram sellers advertising e-cigarettes and selling them were found in Hyderabad. Based on products displayed on websites and Instagram pages, the list ranged from nicotine vapes to disposable pods to high-end devices, priced anywhere between `500 and `4,500, and it was sold under flashy names like ‘NASTY MAX’, ‘Elfbar Raya D3’, ‘Naked 100 Max’ and others. Many buyers were found uploading feedback messages on their Instagram story highlight sections.

While some sellers do offer online payment options. But most of them allow only cash-on-delivery (COD) to avoid tracking. With buyers mostly being teenagers or college going students — drawn to these candy-flavoured pods — others said they turned to vaping as an aid to quit smoking. “I started vaping during Lockdown. It felt like a measure to quit smoking. But now I got addicted to it,” said a 30-year-old man from Lakdi-ka-pul, requesting anonymity.

He further said, “I was attracted to them as a college student too. It almost felt cool as many of my classmates ordered it. But well, it is easier to get them now.”

However, health experts warn that such perceptions are misleading. “Vapes are not safe. They still deliver nicotine and are still addictive. Its overdose can lead to consequences as bad as lung injury,” said Dr Subhakar Nadella, pulmonologist at a private hospital in Hyderabad. “What’s worse is the illusion of safe and secure. It creates a false comfort, especially among the youth,” he added.

A healthcare expert also raised a concern about the list of ingredients mixed while making them. “Vapes are made of chemicals. Hardly do we ever know the chemicals added in it, which makes it even more dangerous for youth,” he said.

In 2019, the Union government banned the manufacturing, import and export, transportation, sales and distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes. However, enforcement has been uneven, especially on online platforms where private sales get away from monitoring. In 2023, the Union health ministry had identified and ordered shutdown of 15 websites selling e-cigarettes. Out of 15, some were closed soon after receiving notices, but many continued their operations.

A contributing factor in garnering popularity is the promotion of these e-cigarettes by the influencers on social media platforms. While several social media platforms could stop the sale of these e-cigarettes, they could not restrict its advertisement or content related to it.