The United Nations is set to review the legal status of nicotine, with a potential global ban vote likely in 2028. The Guardian editorial argues that while an outright ban would go too far, easy availability of nicotine products is unjustified.
The health case against cigarettes is clear
As former WHO director Gro Harlem Brundtland stated in 2000, “a cigarette is the only consumer product which when used as directed kills its consumer.” Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Many nations, including the UK, have implemented stringent restrictions on cigarettes and tobacco.
Over the past two decades, tobacco-free nicotine products like vapes and nicotine pouches have surged in popularity. These use synthetic nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco, but without the carcinogens.
Palau pushes for UN review
The Pacific nation of Palau has tasked the WHO expert committee on drug dependence with reviewing nicotine. This could lead to a UN vote, likely in 2028, on a worldwide ban. The case hinges on whether addiction itself, absent major health consequences, is harmful.
According to a recent Cochrane review, people who switch to vaping are twice as likely to quit smoking. There are still 1.2 billion smokers globally. A Royal College of Physicians report in the UK found that “current evidence suggests nicotine itself confers little risk to health.”
Regulatory gaps and child targeting
Palau’s submission expresses frustration that the nicotine market “sprang up rapidly in a regulatory grey area, and targeted children specifically,” according to the editorial. A WHO report found children are nine times more likely than adults to vape. Some e-cigarettes contain heavy metals, and nicotine is proven harmful to adolescent brain development.
The UK did not have vape-specific legislation until 2016; previous laws covered only tobacco. The editorial warns against a “game of regulatory Whac-A-Mole” where each new product is evaluated only after it gains public traction.
A middle ground approach
The UK smoking ban coming into effect next year will also restrict e-cigarette displays and advertising, and leaves room to limit child-friendly flavours. The Canadian province of Quebec has fully banned flavoured vapes and restricts nicotine pouch sales to pharmacies. The editorial suggests these restrictions should apply to all forms of nicotine to prevent novel products from evading regulation, while still allowing limited access for smokers and consenting adults.
Synthetic nicotine offers addiction without the carcinogens of tobacco, but there is no clear benefit to widespread availability. The science on pure nicotine use remains limited, and downstream products like vapes are not benign. Addictive substances are difficult for individuals to control, which is why countries may need to manage them.
