Almost 70 per cent of teenagers under 25 polled have tried e-cigarettes before, while 60 per cent have picked flavoured cigarettes or other alternative tobacco products because of peer pressure, according to a Hong Kong Polytechnic University study.
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Another study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that more than one-third of regular smokers said they supported plain packaging to be implemented by authorities in 2027.
The government introduced 10 tobacco control measures in June last year, including plain packaging requirements and banning flavoured cigarettes as well as alternative smoking products (ASPs) such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes.
“The lack of the traditional tobacco horrid odour, together with promotions online, has deceived teenagers into thinking that ASPs like e-cigarettes are less harmful and will not affect others,” said Professor Eva Ho Ka-yan, associate professor at PolyU’s nursing school.
“It is extremely easy for teenagers to come into contact with ASPs if they go into clubs or bars. There are even videos on YouTube showing them how to set up a water-pipe to smoke at home, which brings these activities back to their homes and turns them into daily routines.”
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A research programme by PolyU’s school of nursing targeted teenagers under 25 years old who have smoked or are regular smokers, and polled 573 participants through telephone counselling from June 2023 to November 2024.