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India Issues Total Ban Of E-Cigarettes

India's government said e-cigarette use has "increased exponentially and has acquired epidemic proportions in developed countries."

India Issues Total Ban Of E-Cigarettes
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India is completely banning e-cigarettes, saying it's a massive health risk, especially among young adults and children.

The Cabinet approved the ban on Wednesday.

"It means production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, or sale or even distribution and storage and advertisement relating e-cigarettes are all banned," India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. 

In a statement, India's government said the use of e-ciagrettes have "increased exponentially and has acquired epidemic proportions in developed countries, especially among youth and children." 

India's finance minister said e-cigarettes were initially promoted as a way to get people to quit smoking, but reports show people are becoming addicted to them.

People who violate the ban the first time could face up to a year in prison, pay a fine of more than $1,300, or both.