Yet, from a public health perspective, the Mizo Vape phenomenon is a cautionary tale. Prohibition without adequate enforcement or harm-reduction alternatives does not eliminate demand; it drives it underground, where products become more dangerous, youth access expands, and the very notion of "safe vaping" becomes a marketing fiction. Until India reconsiders its blanket ban, the hills of Mizoram will remain clouded—not by the mists of myth, but by the aerosol of an unregulated addiction, wrapped in the sweet scent of mango and the Mizo language.
This study employs a qualitative-dominant approach: semi-structured interviews (n=22) with vape users, vendors, and healthcare workers in Aizawl and Lunglei (2023-2025); digital ethnography of closed Mizo vaping groups on Telegram and Instagram (n=8 groups, ~2,400 members); and chemical analysis reports of confiscated products from the Mizoram Police Narcotics Cell (secondary data). mizo vape
PECA bans all e-cigarettes, with penalties including up to one year in prison or a fine of ₹1 lakh ($1,200). In practice, enforcement in Mizoram is sporadic. Police conduct "vape raids" at colleges every few months, confiscating devices but rarely arresting users. Vendors operate with impunity, often bribing low-level officials. The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department lacks the resources to test e-liquids. Yet, from a public health perspective, the Mizo