95bFM The WHO calls for a ban on flavoured vapes
22 June, 2026
Interview by Caeden Tipler, adapted by Marlo Schorr-Kon
The World Health Organisation has renewed calls for governments to ban flavoured nicotine products, particularly sweet, fruity and confectionary style flavours, which they say drive addiction amongst young people.
The WHO has warned that tobacco and nicotine companies are deliberately creating products that are more appealing, easier to use, and harder to quit for adolescents and young people. This comes alongside recent warnings that nicotine pouches are being promoted by social media influencers, who use lifestyle branding to appeal to young people.
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand Chief Executive, Letitia Harding, told 95bFM's The Wire that the WHO calling for a vape ban “absolutely” makes a difference.
“We do have a lot of interaction with the WHO, and I think they've been at the forefront of saying ‘we need to protect our youth against taking up vaping.’”
“We know that [vaping] is an issue internationally, so I think it is good to have them come out and talk about a ban on flavours, and maybe that is the next step that we need to do here in New Zealand.”
Harding says although there are some restrictions on vaping in New Zealand, we could “go further.”
“There's been a lot of studies out there showing that the myriad of flavours that are available are attractive to use.”
Recent data from the New Zealand Health Survey found that 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds are vaping daily, and almost 14% of 15 to 17-year-olds, something Harding says is “a real issue”.
“Over 50 countries now ban flavoured vapes, they just have tobacco, so that's something we could be looking at here in New Zealand.”
Vape bans have been put in place for a handful of other countries, with some only banning specific flavors, Harding says.
“It's actually not that pleasant to vape or smoke the flavour of tobacco in itself, so flavours are meant to mask it.”
“Places like Finland, Hungary and the Netherlands have banned all e-cigarette flavours except tobacco, and other countries are also considering doing that, including China, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.”
Harding says a lack of regulation early on is likely why vape usage among young people is so high.
“We've been in the space since 2017, when there were no regulations really in the vaping space, which is why that older group of late teens, early 20s now probably have become so dependent on these when there were no regulations.”
Harding says New Zealand “has had a very piecemeal approach to putting in policies to try and protect youth uptake of these products". Now, as other countries are implementing further restrictions, she says it's time for New Zealand to follow suit.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand will keep the public up to date with new studies on the effects of vaping, and Harding says the long-term studies will make the biggest difference on future vaping policies.
“Vaping's been around for some time, but certainly not as long as when cigarettes came out as being cancer-causing, so, we're watching the space, and waiting for those long-term trials and data that do come out, and we'll definitely keep abreast of it and keep putting our message out there as new information does come to light.”
