The Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel) is urgently demanding a regulatory framework for electronic cigarettes, heavily criticizing the nation’s ongoing 2009 vape ban. Executive President Paulo Solmucci warns that prohibition fuels a massive informal market, preventing sanitary control and driving alarming youth consumption rates across Brazil.
The Cost of the Informal Market
The current prohibition model is failing. Instead of protecting public health, the total lack of regulation eliminates minimum standards for product quality, labeling, and chemical composition. Solmucci notes that nearly a third of Brazilian teenagers have already tried unregulated vapes. Insisting on further public consultations only delays critical inspection actions and allows the illegal market to operate freely, compromising both adult consumer safety and the broader public interest.
| Regulatory Status | Abrasel’s Position | Market Reality (Brazil) |
|---|---|---|
| Banned (Since 2009) | Demands urgent regulatory framework. | Products easily found in the informal market. |
| Sanitary Control | Criticizes lack of minimum quality standards. | Consumption occurs entirely outside the law. |
| Youth Impact | Warns prohibition harms teenagers. | Nearly 33% of teens have tried vapes. |
