Germany approves new bill to ban selling e-cigarettes to young people

The German cabinet approved a draft bill on Wednesday to better protect children and young people against health risks arising from the use of e-cigarettes and e-shishas.

So far, children and young people can simply buy and consume these products in Germany.

However, according to the new bill, electronic cigarettes and hookahs can no longer be sold to children and young people in Germany, which also applies to mail order business.

"E-cigarettes and e-hookahs do not belong in the hands of children and adolescents," said German Family Minister Manuela Schwesig.

With the new regulations, the awareness "that consumption of e-cigarettes and e-hookah is by no means harmless" will be raised, she said.

As new studies suggested, electronic cigarettes and shisha are associated with significant risks to health, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not. Endit