Vapers Digest 11th November

Monday’s News at a glance:

ETHRA October news roundup – In the moral panic over vaping, we risk forgetting that cigarettes kill – Why smoking cessation programs should embrace vaping – UKVIA Celebrates Licensing Announcement – EU won’t meet its ‘smoke-free’ target for 76 years – Thinking ’bout THR News & Views – Illicit tobacco and firebombing crackdown – Estonia’s nicotine policy stuck behind Nordic decision makers – CoffeeChat with Kurt Yeo and Martin Cullip – ‘Dumb policy with obvious results’: – David Limbrick responds to crazy report

ETHRA October news roundup

European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates

ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: EU SANT Committee – French Nicotine Pouch Ban – Irish Extortionate Vape Tax – UK Disposable Vape Ban – UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill Returns – Kids No Longer Smoke Cigarettes. Why Aren’t We Celebrating? – Science vs. dogma: the choice is now – EU Should Follow Swedish Example. Read on for more.

In the moral panic over vaping…

We risk forgetting that cigarettes kill – Martha Gill

Imagine we’d found a way to get millions of people to switch from alcohol, which in this country kills 10,000 people a year, to another kind of substance: still addictive, still not risk-free, but when compared with the booze, pretty harmless. Coffee, say.

A public health miracle is hailed. Liver units are empty. Heart surgeons spend more time on the golf course, and costly government prevention programmes close. Millions chink into NHS coffers.

Why smoking cessation programs…

Should embrace vaping – Layal Bou Harfouch

Cigarette smoking continues to be one of the top causes of preventable deaths globally. In more prosperous countries, such as the United States, smoking cessation programs play an important role in helping smokers who want to quit achieve their goals for better health. However, these programs aren’t maximizing their potential because they completely disregard e-cigarettes as a viable option for those who have a more difficult time with the current abstinence-centric approaches.

Each state varies in its approach to smoking cessation programs. But there is a nearly universal strong anti-vaping stance across states that considers e-cigarettes to be just as undesirable as traditional cigarettes.

“[Vaping] a huge threat to the anti-smoking activists”
The impact on public health based on their manufactured moral panic (& greed) will never be forgotten. Thank you, @JohnStossel
For you: @HealthZA @HealthSocClust @ParliamentofRSA @SAQuitline @MRCza @CANSA @satfyf2030 pic.twitter.com/SIhTnRpW92

— Kurt Yeo (@Kurt_Yeo) November 9, 2024

UKVIA Celebrates Announcement

Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has welcomed news that the Government included powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trade body said that this represented a victory for law abiding vape businesses “who have been campaigning for years for such regulation to stop rogue traders in their tracks from selling to minors and establishing a lucrative black market.”

EU won’t meet its ‘smoke-free’ target …

For 76 years – Ali Anderson

The European Union (EU) won’t meet its target to be ‘smoke free’ for another 76 years, a major new report has found. The EU has set itself a goal of being declared smoke free, defined by the World Health Organisation as having a smoking rate of under five per cent, by 2040.

But new analysis from global research body Smoke Free Sweden reveals that at the current trajectory, the EU won’t meet its target until 2100 – an astonishing six decades behind schedule.

Thinking ’bout THR News & Views

Kim “Skip” Murray

I come from a long line of farmers, and even though I don’t live on a farm anymore, that heritage stays with me. I love to harvest information; sharing it is like planting knowledge in other people’s brains.

Creating these newsletters allows me to do both, gather and share, but they get too long, don’t email well, and can be overwhelming for readers. It is like flooding a farmer’s field, making it difficult for anything to grow!

Illicit tobacco and firebombing crackdown

Callum Ludwig

As Victoria Police continue to work to combat the illicit tobacco trade rampant in Victoria, state politicians are milling about how to legislate change that cracks down on both the trade and associated violence such as firebombing.

The Victorian Liberals and Nationals recently attempted to introduce a bill in an effort to crack down on firebombing, calling out the average of two firebombings of tobacco shops each week for the past 18 months, which the Labor Government did not support.

Estonia’s nicotine policy…

Stuck behind Nordic decision makers

Estonia is considering introducing a nicotine limit for snus and tobacco products. The Ministry of Social Affairs and importers think this could happen after the Nordic countries clarify their restrictions so rules can be harmonized across the region.

Estonia’s Nordic neighbors are discussing nicotine content limits in Snus, powdered tobacco leaves pouches, Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported last month.

From the YouTubes:

CoffeeChat with Kurt Yeo & Martin Cullip

THR: South Africa’s THR policies

In this insightful interview, Bryan Steenkamp, a dedicated Social Media Executive and Content Creator, sits down with Kurt Yeo and Martin Cullip to discuss the vital role of harm reduction in smoking cessation. Bryan, a former smoker turned advocate, draws from his experience in the vaping industry to relay medical and harm reduction research, helping thousands quit smoking and pursue healthier lives

‘Dumb policy with obvious results’:

Government vape crackdown slammed

Sky News host Caleb Bond claims the government’s crackdown on illegal vapes resulted in a boom in the illegal trade of the products. The federal government instituted a policy so vapes and vaping products could only be sold in a pharmacy as a smoking cessation device.

David Limbrick responds to crazy report

On illicit vaping and tobacco

The Victorian Public Accounts and Estimates Committee recently released a report on illicit tobacco and vaping. While five minutes wasn’t long enough to mention all of the crazy things that the report claimed David Limbrick highlighted some of the key flaws.

On this Day…2023

A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…

Is Government’s “Smoke-Free Generation”

Bid Losing Its Way? – Kiran Sidhu

The tobacco plan, unveiled in October, is controversial in itself; people currently under 15 would never be able to buy cigarettes legally, ultimately leading to full prohibition. But the government’s bill also allows the possibility of new vape taxes and restrictions, as it promises to crack down on youth vaping.

On October 12, the government launched a public consultation on youth vaping. Participation is open to UK residents of any age, with “teenagers, parents, teachers, medical professionals, academic experts and others” invited to submit opinions and experiences. The consultation period ends on December 6.

Government drive to phase out smoking

And tackle youth vaping attracts large response

Over 12,000 responses have been received as part of the government’s consultation on plans to create a smokefree generation and crack down on youth vaping – the most significant public health intervention in a generation.

The Prime Minister recently announced plans to introduce a historic new law to stop children who turn 14 this year and younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. He also set out the government’s concerns about the worrying rise in vaping among children and announced a public consultation on plans to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children.