Vapers Digest 13th November
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
Spain’s Tax is Dangerously Misguided ~ Experts’ Bill Response ~ Tobacco Firm Welcomes New Approach ~ Switching from smoking to vaping improves respiratory health ~ Thinking ’bout THR Events & Opportunities ~ BREAKING NEWS: Swedes first in world to become smoke free – it’s a lesson for the world ~ A smoke-free Nigeria is possible: Lessons from Sweden’s successful tobacco harm reduction strategy ~ Quebec To The Future 4 ~ Vietnam’s Minister of Health responds to legislators’ concerns about e-cigarettes, heated tobacco ~ New Committee in the European Parliament to tackle regulation of Nicotine Pouches ~ UK vape clampdown could lead to more smokers, government’s own report warns ~ New regulations for pharmacy vape sales: a missed opportunity ~ An open goal ~ Tobacco and Vapor Product Use Down in Vermont, Flavors Not Main Reason for Use ~ Study: Boredom, relaxation, experimentation drive teen vaping ~ SWITZERLAND SWITCHES THINGS UP | Landl analyses the latest vape regulatory changes
Three from Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes
Spain’s Tax is Dangerously Misguided
Plans to impose excessive taxes on e-cigarettes in Spain could condemn thousands of Spanish adults who smoke to a premature death, according to international health experts. The move to tax harm reduction comes as the countdown has begun to the day Swedes make history as the world’s first nation to become officially declared ‘smoke free’.
Experts’ Bill Response
Leading independent researchers at UK universities has expressed their opinions about the implications of the Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Professor Sean Semple at the University of Stirling, the University of East Anglia’s Professor Caitlin Notley, Professors Jamie Brown and Lion Shahab at University College London, and King’s College London’s Professor Ann McNeill have all responded to the changes to vape legislation.
Tobacco Firm Welcomes New Approach
British American Tobacco (BAT UK) has welcomed the proposed new retail licensing system as key intervention to stop underage vaping but warns fines for breaking the law are too low. It says the £200 fines need to be increased if it is to be an effective deterrent but goes on to say it also supports a ban on flavours that resemble dessert, sweets or soft drinks. BAT UK is calling for fruit flavours to be protected as they are the most used flavour range by adults.
Switching from smoking to vaping improves respiratory health
Oxford University Press USA, News-Medical.Net
A new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press, finds that people who switch from smoking cigarettes to vaping see improved respiratory health, but people who begin consuming electronic cigarettes while continuing to smoke regular cigarettes do not report improved respiratory symptoms.
Quebec To The Future 4
Richard Crosby, The Daily Pouch
New Committee in the European Parliament to tackle regulation of Nicotine Pouches
Pouch Forum
In a significant move following long-standing negotiations, the European Parliament has agreed on a new permanent committee, the SANT, dedicated to Public Health. This committee will hold legislative power over nicotine/tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, by leading on the upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. This decision follows extended negotiations between key political groups, including the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe.
UK vape clampdown could lead to more smokers, government’s own report warns
Ali Anderson, Clearing The Air
Labour’s crackdown on vaping could backfire and lead to more people smoking, the government’s own impact assessment warns. An “unintended consequence” of banning disposable vapes and certain flavours “is that it could encourage more people to try smoking” it says. The report, published before the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was reintroduced to parliament last week, highlights a study from the U.S that found an extra 15 cigarettes could be sold for ever 0.7ml vape pod not sold. The new Bill, if passed, will stop anyone born after January 2009 from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes, and ban smoking in a range of outdoor areas such outside hospitals and children’s play areas.
New regulations for pharmacy vape sales: a missed opportunity
Dr Colin Mendelsohn, Dr Alex Wodak AM, Australian Vaping News
A recent nationwide survey of 305 pharmacies revealed the failure of the October 1 regulations intended to provide adult smokers with access to low-nicotine vapes (≤20mg/mL) without a prescription as Schedule 3 medicines. The survey found that 99% of pharmacies (n=301) did not have low-nicotine vapes available for walk-in customers. Just 6 more (2%) were willing to order them upon request, signalling widespread non-participation despite repeated assurances from the federal Health Minister.
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…
ENVI Committee in the EU Parliament:
A step towards the recognition of vaping and harm reduction – ETHRA
In this guest post ETHRA partner Sovape writes on the adoption of the Subcommittee on Public Health report on non-communicable diseases by the ENVI Committee in the European Parliament. The original article, in French, is available here.
Sweden’s Road to a Smoke-Free Nation
Somos Innovación
Join us in an exploration as international health experts and advocates from across the globe converge to discuss Sweden’s groundbreaking approach to achieving a smoke-free society. In this video, we delve into the perspectives of non-Swedish professionals who have witnessed Sweden’s exceptional tactics in reducing smoking prevalence to under 5 percent — a feat unparalleled in most countries.
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