They buy disposables, heaters, sachets. Young people about access to nicotine: too easy

Access to all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters, is still too easy among young people, according to research. surveywhich was conducted in October 2024 on a group of 1,000 parents and 500 teenagers aged 15-17. As much as 83 percent surveyed teenagers and parents consider it easy or very easy, and 74 percent he sees no problems with purchasing such products. Interestingly, young people more often than their parents assess access to these products as too easy.

The report was prepared on the occasion of World Stop Smoking Day, which falls on November 21 this year (it is organized every year on the third Thursday of this month). Rotary Club Warsaw and the Institute of Social and Market Research have developed a study on the availability and use of nicotine products by young people.

Parents and young people agree that the most effective solution would be mandatory checking of the buyer's age when purchasing a tobacco product. The next places mentioned included the introduction of a ban on online sales and a ban on advertising and marketing activities.

According to the authors of the study, the current activities of the Ministry of Health in terms of law enforcement have not brought the expected results. They also point out that Poland has delays in implementing EU directives (e.g. the directive on flavors in water heaters), which are already due and in force in other countries. “Better law enforcement and education of children and youth, as well as implementation of overdue EU directives are definitely necessary,” they emphasize.

According to the study, tobacco heaters are the most recognizable among parents (79%) and teenagers (83%). According to the report, this may be the result of intensive marketing activities, as well as the large presence of these products on the market, for example in shopping centers.

Disposable e-cigarettes are known more often among minors (73%) than among parents (51%). The least recognizable are the so-called nicotine sachets, especially among young people – only 18%. surveyed youth know what this product is. Teenagers are more likely than their parents to notice that disposable e-cigarettes are used by minors. This was admitted by 42 percent. adults and 48 percent surveyed youth.

Parents (48%) are more likely to pay attention to the use of tobacco heaters by minors than teenagers (41%). It is surprising that nicotine sachets are noticed by only 7%. teenagers and much more often, because by 24 percent adults.

Young people primarily point to disposable e-cigarettes (37%) as the most attractive nicotine product. Tobacco heaters come second (26%), and sachets come third (10%). 27 percent parents indicate e-cigarettes, only 12 percent for heaters and as much as 16 percent believes that sachets are attractive to young people.

Parents (73%) and teenagers (69%) notice that the use of nicotine products is a problem in our country. Young people are even more likely than adults to believe that it is “definitely serious” (46 and 36 percent, respectively).

Teenagers consider disposable e-cigarettes to be the greatest threat (42%). They put heaters in second place (28%), and nicotine sachets in third place (8%). Parents, on the other hand, consider sachets to be the greatest threat (28%). Disposable e-cigarettes pose a threat to 15 percent. surveyed parents, and heaters – for 11 percent. As much as 45 percent The surveyed parents were unable to answer the question about which nicotine products pose the greatest threat to young people.

Both groups were asked which stimulants pose the greatest threat to young people. Both parents (60%) and teenagers (52%) unanimously mentioned alcohol. In second place were traditional cigarettes (17 and 14 percent, respectively), disposable e-cigarettes (7 and 13 percent), sachets (5 and 2 percent), tobacco heaters (4 and 6 percent) and electronic cigarettes ( 1 and 11 percent).