South Africa’s double defeat – smoking up, vaping unchecked

South Africa’s double defeat – smoking up, vaping unchecked

South Africa's smoking rate hit 24% (2021); 17% of high schoolers vape, 61% potentially nicotine-dependent (2024, 52 schools). Regulatory reform stalled since 2018 leaves e-cigarettes unregulated; illicit tobacco at ~60% of sales neutralizes excise policy.