Regulations

We, the owners and staff of gulshans, are deeply concerned by the provincial government’s recent decision to implement a province-wide ban on vaping products in Punjab. This decision, while perhaps well-intentioned, will have significant negative consequences for countless individuals who have turned to vaping as a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes, and for the many small business owners who have invested significantly in this industry.
Vaping has been recognized by numerous international health bodies as a substantially safer alternative to smoking. For instance, Public Health England has maintained for years that vaping is around 95% less harmful than smoking. For adult smokers, vaping offers a viable pathway to reduce or quit their reliance on traditional cigarettes, which remain widely and legally available despite their well-documented severe health risks. A ban on vaping products not only disregards this harm reduction potential but also risks driving former smokers back to cigarettes or towards an unregulated, and therefore unsafe, black market.

We believe that the government’s objective of protecting public health can be more effectively achieved through strict and sensible regulation, rather than an outright ban. The United Kingdom serves as a strong example where vaping is regulated as a consumer product and has been successfully integrated into public health strategies to reduce smoking rates. They have implemented robust frameworks that ensure product safety and restrict youth access, while still allowing adult smokers to access these less harmful alternatives.

Instead of prohibition, we urge the government to consider a regulatory framework that includes:

1. Strict Licensing for Retailers: Implement a comprehensive licensing system for all vape product sellers, ensuring accountability and adherence to provincial laws.
2. Robust Age Verification: Enforce stringent age verification protocols at the point of sale to prevent youth access.
3. Restrictions on Open Bottle Sales: Prohibit the sale of e-liquids from open bottles, ensuring product integrity, hygiene, and preventing unauthorized modifications.
4. Product Standards and Testing: Mandate clear product standards, including ingredients, labeling, and safety features, aligned with established best practices.
5. Regular Health Checks and Compliance: Institute a system for regular compliance checks and health inspections for licensed establishments.

An outright ban will dismantle legitimate businesses, cost jobs, and ultimately, may harm public health by removing a recognized harm reduction tool. We implore the Punjab government to reconsider this ban and engage in a constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders, public health experts, and consumers. Let us work together to establish a regulatory framework that prioritizes safety and responsible access for adult users, rather than resorting to a prohibition that ignores the potential benefits for adult smokers and the economic realities faced by local businesses.

We are committed  to being part of a solution that protects public health while respecting the choices of informed adults
Sincerely,
The Team at Gulshans