Tourists heading to Mexico are being warned to check their hand luggage carefully after the country introduced a strict new ban on vapes, with travellers facing the risk of heavy fines and even jail time.
The new rules came into force on January 17 following the approval of a constitutional reform designed to protect public health. Under the updated law, the importation, distribution and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are now prohibited, meaning tourists arriving with vapes in their possession could face legal consequences.
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved the reform earlier this year, with the legislation formally published in the Official Gazette of the Federation by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on January 16. The text of the reform states: 'The law will penalize all activities related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and other analogous electronic systems or devices specified by law, as well as the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl, and other unauthorized synthetic drugs.'
Tourists who unknowingly bring e-cigarettes into the country could be stopped at customs, fined thousands of pesos or face prosecution under the new regulations. Mexico has tightened restrictions on vaping over recent years. Devices were once widely available, often promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking, but authorities have increasingly moved to limit their use amid growing health concerns.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 34 countries had already banned the sale of e-cigarettes by July 2023. The specialist agency says e-cigarettes have not been shown to help people quit tobacco use at a population level and warns of 'alarming' adverse health impacts. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: 'E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects. Kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine. I urge countries to implement strict measures to prevent uptake to protect their citizens, especially their children and young people.'
