Vaping by minors to be banned in The Netherlands

E-cigarettes, which electrically vapourize anicotine-infused solution, are defended by their proponents as ahealthier alternative to conventional cigarettes, but thegovernment said its studies showed they were still harmful.

The government said that studies carried out by the Dutchfood safety and public health institutes had shown thate-cigarettes were "more harmful than expected" to users' health.

A recent U.S. study showed that teens and young adults who"vape" are more likely to graduate to smoking combustiblecigarettes than those who do not.

Tobacco companies, including BAT, Philip Morris, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco, areall jostling for position in the emerging vaping market, whichcould top $7 billion US in size this year.

The Netherlands, known for its relaxed attitude towards theconsumption of soft drugs, is one of few countries left inEurope where it is still permitted to smoke indoors in certainbars.