The recent crackdown on the millennial vaping crisis by the US government and the resultant ban on e-cigarettes in the state of New York has had quite the impact on India. Within a day of the ban, the Union Cabinet also announced that the motion to ban e-cigarettes and similar smoking alternatives has been approved. The includes the sale, manufacturing, production, import and export, transport, storage and advertising of e-cigarettes. Ill-effects of e-cigarettes was brought into focus after a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research was published recently. The paper enumerates the many harmful effects of nicotine, flavouring agents and vaporizers.

SEE ALSO: E-Cigarettes Banned By the Union Cabinet. Here’s What Happens If You Are Caught Using One

Now, we know that e-cigarettes don’t exactly come with health benefits, but we can’t sidetrack a product that’s heavily relied on by a user base comprised of wanna be quitters. Vapes and juuls are used by smokers who are trying to kick the habit and now, the only alternative in the Indian market is being taken away. And while the study mentions that e-cigarettes are doing nothing to curb the consumption of tobacco, naysayers of the e-cigarette ban are beginning to think that it’s taking away a major anti-tobacco player out of the field.

Suspicious citizens and vocal netizens are now pointing out how the ban does nothing to tackle the real health risk - regular, tobacco-filled cigarettes. The government, it seems is shifting focus from the real problem here and the irony isn’t lost on the public. Netizens took to Twitter to express their views on the e-cigarette ban and practically everyone has the same throbbing question:

According to Government 👇



Pic 1: Tobacco cigarette is good for health. Let's not ban it.



Pic 2: E-Cigarette is not good for health. Let's ban it.



🤐🤐#ecigarettes#ecigaretteban pic.twitter.com/cGBQN2qNId — Avinav☀️🏹🇮🇳♌ (@avinav_g19) September 18, 2019

Govt. bans sale, production, import, usage of e-cigarettes and vapes!



But Cigarettes are totally legal in India and doesn't cause any health issues! WOW! #ecigarettes #ecigaretteban #vape pic.twitter.com/zwKgHogK74 — Sudeep P Nambiar (@SudeepNbr) September 18, 2019

#ecigaretteban

Govt.: Ban e cigarette

Gutkha and cigarette smokers rite now pic.twitter.com/7ikMFEteJE — Raj Malpekar (@malpekar) September 19, 2019

Let's get this to the point.



E-cigarettes are banned & not cigarettes - coz they don't cause any revenue to the Government? Simple. #ecigarettes #ecigaretteban — Ishika Kapadia🇮🇳 (@ishikakapadia) September 18, 2019

My local weed dealer to me after hearing the ban on #ecigarettes.#ecigaretteban pic.twitter.com/IV45uK1QW0 — Prasad Patil (@_prasadp_) September 18, 2019

To the government that just realized that #ecigarettes can be perilous to health.....so let's ban it!

But smokers don't panic, sale of normal cigarettes and chewing tobacco will continue and hopefully raise the Indian economy#ecigaretteban#ecigarettes pic.twitter.com/n8OIbQahhN — Varsha Rajan (@Varsharajan7) September 18, 2019

What about tobacco? India is the second-largest consumer base for tobacco. E-cigarettes were the most accessible alternative and having that out of the way would only mean one thing, more sale of tobacco cigarettes. The move protects tobacco companies in so many ways that we can’t help but wonder what the ban is really about. The Indian government's war on the use of tobacco is taking a rather questionable trajectory.

As per the bill drafted, the penalty for the use or sale of e-cigarettes is a jail term up to a year or a fine up to 1 lakh or both for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders could incur 5 lakhs in fine and three years in jail or both. Storage of e-cigarettes will be punishable by imprisonment for six months and a fine of 50,000 INR or both.

SEE ALSO: The FDA has its eyes on Juul