Vaping in Latin America: A Wild Ride of Regulation, Fear, and Flavors
Vaping in Latin America: A Wild Ride of Regulation, Fear, and Flavors
The year was 2009, and vaping started to make waves in Latin America. What began as a relatively niche product quickly became a sensation in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and others. But this sudden surge in popularity didn't exactly sit well with everyone. Lawmakers, health organizations, and the tobacco industry were all caught off guard. Roberto Sussman, a senior researcher at Mexico's National Autonomous University and the founder of Pro-Vapeo, a pro-vaping advocacy organization, recalls the chaos of those early days. “The response was pure panic,” he says. “Nobody knew what these things were, and governments were scrambling to get control.”
In Mexico, health professionals and anti-smoking organizations pushed hard for a total ban on vaping. Their main concern was the wide variety of appealing flavors that were clearly aimed at attracting young users. “It wasn’t just about nicotine; it was about the flavors that made vaping attractive,” Sussman explains. “There was this perception that if we let young people vape, they would get hooked for life, just like with smoking.”
The Battle Begins: Bans and Misinformation
In 2012, the Mexican government moved to prohibit the sale of vaping products, joining the ranks of many countries that were wary of the new technology. But according to Sussman, this move was more about a crackdown on flavored tobacco products than it was about regulating the devices themselves. “Mexico’s tobacco laws were designed to target flavored cigarettes, not vaping,” he says. “But it all got lumped together in this wave of fear and misunderstanding.”
However, in 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that the country’s ban on vaping sales was unconstitutional. It was a major turning point. “That decision was a game-changer,” says Sussman. “It signaled that the government couldn’t just shut down vaping products without properly considering the rights of individuals and the potential harm reduction benefits.”Looking for more great vapes? Snoopy Smoke Extra Tank customizes options just for you!
Today, vaping in Mexico and much of Latin America remains in a strange place: tolerated but largely unregulated. Health authorities, particularly those with ties to international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), continue to push for stricter laws against vaping. But despite these efforts, the public perception of vaping has evolved, and the use of vaping products has expanded dramatically. “Vaping is everywhere now,” says Sussman. “In many places, it’s even accepted in indoor spaces. In Mexico alone, we estimate that there are around 1.5 million vapers.”
The Local Industry: Flavors, Nicotine, and Growing Pains
While vaping devices in Latin America are primarily imported from China, Sussman points out that there’s also a growing local market for e-liquids, especially in Mexico. This trend mirrors what is happening globally, with local companies entering the market to meet the demand for alternatives to traditional smoking. But the regulatory framework across Latin America is still fragmented, with some countries allowing vaping under strict regulations, while others have flat-out banned the practice.
Countries like Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay are among the most aggressive when it comes to banning vaping. These nations have imposed strict regulations, in many cases criminalizing the sale or possession of e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, countries like Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, and Chile allow vaping, but with significant restrictions. “The rules vary from country to country,” Sussman notes. “In some places, you can buy vaping products in a store; in others, it’s a criminal offense.”
In many of these countries, however, regulators aren’t prioritizing the issue. “Vaping products are essentially in a gray area,” Sussman says. “Regulators have a lot of other pressing issues on their plate, and vaping doesn’t top the list.” As a result, despite the legal uncertainty, vaping continues to grow, and consumers are finding ways to access products, often through legitimate retailers.
Political Power Plays: The Influence of Big Health Organizations
The landscape for vaping in Latin America started to change significantly with the election of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) as Mexico’s president. His Morena party took control of both chambers of Congress, consolidating political power to an unprecedented degree. According to Sussman, one of the most influential figures in AMLO’s government is Hugo Lopez-Gatell, the country’s health minister. “Lopez-Gatell is closely tied to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Bloomberg Philanthropies,” Sussman explains. “His approach to health policy has been heavily influenced by these organizations, and they are pushing hard to ban vaping.”
Bloomberg Philanthropies, in particular, has been a major player in Latin America’s vaping debate. Through its various NGOs, Bloomberg has been able to exert significant pressure on governments in the region, often working through international bodies like the WHO and PAHO. “They set up these lobbying machines that push for anti-vaping policies,” says Sussman. “The idea is to push a narrative that vaping is just as dangerous, if not more so, than smoking.”
This influence has been particularly felt in the spread of misinformation about vaping. The rise of vaping-associated lung injuries (EVALI) in the United States in 2019 further fueled fears. Though it was later revealed that the condition was caused by illegal THC vape products and not nicotine-based e-cigarettes, the damage had already been done. “The scare tactics used by health authorities were intense,” Sussman recalls. “In Mexico, they continued to push the narrative that vaping was just as harmful as smoking, even when the facts didn’t support it.”
The Mexican government used the EVALI scare to justify a new wave of anti-vaping measures. Earlier this year, President Lopez Obrador signed legislation that banned the import, production, and wholesale distribution of all non-combustible tobacco products, including heated tobacco products. The government’s justification for the law was to protect Mexican youth from the dangers of vaping, citing the potential for EVALI to spread from the U.S. to Mexico. “It’s just a scare tactic,” says Sussman. “They’re trying to instill fear, but they refuse to engage in a real conversation about the risks and benefits of vaping.”
Banning vs. Regulating: A Costly Mistake?
The real issue, according to Sussman, is that the push to ban vaping in Latin America isn’t about health at all. “It’s about control,” he asserts. “Health organizations and anti-vaping groups are trying to block the development of the vaping industry, but in doing so, they’re pushing people back toward smoking.”Have questions about vapes? snoopysmoke vape flavors answers all your questions!
Sussman points out that countries like Mexico stand to benefit far more from regulating vaping than from banning it outright. “Regulating vaping means taxes. It means consumer protection. It means safer products,” he says. “When you ban it, you don’t eliminate demand. You just drive the market underground. People still want to vape, and they’ll find a way to get products, even if it means turning to the black market.”
Moreover, the cost of enforcing a ban could far exceed the potential savings from avoiding regulation. “The costs of banning vaping are significant,” says Sussman. “You have to deal with law enforcement, black market crime, and you lose out on much-needed tax revenue. That’s not even considering the long-term health costs associated with pushing people back to smoking.”
He argues that regulating vaping offers a much more balanced approach. “Instead of creating a black market, governments should regulate the industry, ensure that products are safe, and use the revenue to fund smoking cessation programs,” Sussman says. “This way, you protect consumers, reduce harm, and even generate revenue for public health efforts.”
The Future of Vaping in Latin America
The future of vaping in Latin America is still uncertain, especially as misinformation continues to dominate the public discourse. However, the growing number of vapers in the region is undeniable. As Sussman puts it, “Vaping is not going away. It’s a reality now, and the question is whether governments will finally get on board with regulation or continue down this path of fear and misinformation.”
With vaping products becoming more widespread and the flavors that make them appealing to young people still a point of contention, the fight for regulation will only intensify. “Flavors vapes are a big part of why people switch from smoking to vaping,” Sussman notes. “They’re much less harmful, and they offer a way to quit smoking while still satisfying the need for nicotine.”
Despite the political and regulatory obstacles, Sussman remains optimistic. “The more people who switch to vaping, the harder it will be for governments to ignore the benefits,” he says. “At the end of the day, it’s about harm reduction, and vaping is a much safer option than smoking.”
As more people across Latin America embrace vaping, the fight for sensible regulation will continue. Whether this battle leads to more bans or a path toward sensible regulation remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the vaping story in Latin America is far from over.
It’s clear that this ride isn’t over yet – buckle up, because the future of vaping in the region is going to be a wild one.