Hendrik Streeck, the federal government’s drug commissioner, welcomed Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer’s proposal to ban menthol and other additives in e‑cigarettes. “This is an important and overdue step for health protection, especially for children and adolescents” he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Streeck warned that marketing nicotine products with sweet flavours and colourful “candy‑like” designs is not a matter of freedom but a “cannabis‑exploitation” strategy. He added that, in the long run, all distinctive flavours should be removed from nicotine products, following the example set by the Netherlands and Denmark. “Equally important is that e‑cigarettes no longer be sold under names, designs, and flavour themes that resemble sweets or snacks” he said, stressing that addicting products are incompatible with necessary health and youth protection.
Streeck also called for stricter controls and a consistent enforcement of the advertising ban. “We need far better monitoring of illegal import and distribution-both in retail and online”. He demanded that business inspectors act decisively if prohibited products are sold to minors, adding that rules only work if they are fully implemented. “There can be no grey zones when protecting children and adolescents” he warned.
Renowned addiction researcher Heino Stöver of Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences opposed this approach. “For long‑time smokers who have repeatedly failed to quit, e‑cigarettes can be a practical intermediate step to finally ditch the burning cigarette” Stöver argued. “E‑cigarettes are still unhealthy, but they contain up to 95 % fewer harmful chemicals than conventional cigarettes”. He criticised the lack of a risk‑benefit assessment that weighs the ban on additives against the dangers of continuing conventional smoking. Stöver again urged stronger protection for young people, calling for a ban on disposable vapes and a firm implementation of the advertising ban. “Influencers and rappers must not be allowed to target young audiences unpunished on social media. This must be stopped immediately”.