Vapers Digest 14th February

Friday’s News at a glance:

Vape Club Comments on Vape Bill ~Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Under Fire ~ AMA Propagates Lies in Oz ~ Raid Shuts Another Store ~ UN Urged to Recognise THR ~ The New Nicotine Alliance turns 10 years old ~ Lawmaker files suit against ‘Big Tobacco’ for flouting law, while trying to monopolize vape market ~ Bringing Common Sense to Tobacco Control Policy ~ Parents “confused” by Australia’s vape laws, new report finds ~ Kenya Risks Prolonging Smoking Crisis by Restricting Safer Alternatives, New Report Warns ~ Why is Australia’s smoking rate falling slower than NZ’s? (Hint: vapes) ~ Less restrictive vaping laws linked to faster smoking decline ~ Adult Smokers and Vapers Are Still Being Ignored — And It’s Costing Lives ~ Cranky ~ Most US Adults Who Quit Smoking Now Use Nicotine Products to Do So—Typically Vapes ~ Will a New Administration Result in a New Approach to Tobacco & Nicotine Regulation? ~ Trump Could Pave the Way for a Future Without Smoking ~ New Study Shows that E-Cigarettes Help Young Adult Smokers to Quit ~ New Study Demonstrates Why Anti-Vape Academics are Wrong in Concluding that E-Cigarette Use Causes Heart Attacks and COPD ~Surge in illicit nicotine pouches underscores urgent need for regulated, safer alternatives ~ Nicotine Control | Lies, Bans, Politics & Betrayal ~ NEW ZEALAND’S SUCCESS STORY | This Is How New Zealand Outpaced Australia feat. Colin Mendelsohn

Five from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

Vape Club Comments on Vape Bill

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will likely see its third and final reading in the Commons in the coming weeks, the final stage before moving to the House of Lords. As the Bill progresses, industry experts have expressed their concerns that this could lead to a surge in individuals purchasing illicit vaping products. Dan Marchant, CEO and founder of the UK’s largest vaping retailer, Vape Club, has offered his insights.

Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Under Fire

World Cancer Day is an international day observed every 4 February to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic, led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The UICC has “official relations with the World Health Organization”. This year, the World Health Organization came under fire for its anti-harm reduction stance by the World Vapers’ Alliance.

AMA Propagates Lies in Oz

The American Medical Association (AMA) is demanding President Trump bans flavoured vapes because it claims e-cigarettes and vaping constitute a public health epidemic. Worse, it is now claiming that vapes are tobacco products and cause “multiple types of cancer”. Leading harm reduction expert Dr Michael Siegel has expressed his astonishment at the AMA’s statement.

Raid Shuts Another Store

A Lancaster city centre shop has been ordered to close for three months after the sale of illicit tobacco products and illegally selling a vape to a child during test operations. City Mini Market on Penny Street was served with a closure notice on Monday 13 January after robust action on a series of visits by Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards officers.

UN Urged to Recognise THR

A coalition of international consumer advocacy groups has submitted a comprehensive response to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, regarding her recent report on harm reduction. The letter, signed by representatives from CASA Africa, ARDT Iberoamérica, and CAPHRA (Asia Pacific), calls for the recognition of tobacco harm reduction (THR) as a crucial strategy in public health policy.

The New Nicotine Alliance turns 10 years old

New Nicotine Alliance

It was ten years ago today when the NNA first became an educational charity. Trustees of the organisation had previously met while fighting against the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive, alongside other European consumers, which was attempting to regulate e-cigarettes to be licensed only as medicinal products. This was a clear attempt by the EU to eradicate vaping in its infancy. Thanks to the weight of consumer action, all of whom had quit smoking by using the new technology, and a few very brave and outspoken MEPs, the threat was avoided and the NNA formalised as a consumer association a short time later, only the second association of its kind in the world.

Lawmaker files suit against ‘Big Tobacco’ for flouting law,

while trying to monopolize vape market

Darrell Ehrlick, Daily Montanan

A Montana lawmaker who is also a vape store owner has filed a lawsuit in federal court against large tobacco companies for what he believes are illegal lobbying activities that violate a settlement agreement while forcing their vaping products onto shelves. Rep. Ron Marshall, R-Hamilton, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, said that big tobacco lobbyists from some of the largest American companies like Altria Group and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, are working against laws that would restrict vaping products for youth, while simultaneously using a Food and Drug Administration process to make only their products available to vape shop retailers.

Bringing Common Sense to Tobacco Control Policy

Joe Murillo, Policy & Progress in Tobacco Harm Reduction

The new administration is moving fast on a wide array of initiatives to reshape government approaches to issues big and small. President Trump often refers to these measures as a “revolution of common sense,” underscoring his view that much of what he’s trying to do is about smart policies and ambitious goals that help the American people. Now that he’s in office beginning the process of installing new leadership at federal agencies and mapping out his administration’s policy agenda for the coming four years, it is a natural opportunity to “think big” about the future. Here is a big thought, rooted in common sense: let’s make cigarettes obsolete.

Parents “confused” by Australia’s vape laws, new report finds

Ali Anderson, Clearing The Air

Parents in Australia “don’t really understand” confusing new vape laws, a government-funded report has revealed.

Since October, vapes can only legally be bought in the country from a chemist following a consultation with a pharmacist. Disposable and flavoured vapes (except mint, menthol and tobacco) have also been banned and a limit has been imposed on nicotine strength.

However, the report – commissioned by the Federal Government Department of Health, the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health, Cancer Institute NSW and Minderoo Foundation – found that many parents have little to no awareness of the new legislation.

Kenya Risks Prolonging Smoking Crisis by Restricting Safer Alternatives, New Report Warns

Joseph Magero, Policy Watch Africa

The landmark study, Tale of Two Nations: Kenya vs. Sweden, reveals how Sweden’s harm reduction approach has driven smoking rates to record lows, while Kenya’s proposed regulations could hinder progress in reducing smoking-related deaths. Sweden has slashed its smoking rates by making safer alternatives – such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes – accessible, acceptable and affordable for adults. Official figures released in November showed that the number of Swedish-born over-16s who smoke cigarettes has dropped to 4.6%, well below the global benchmark for smoke-free status.

Why is Australia’s smoking rate falling slower than NZ’s? (Hint: vapes)

Bernard Keane, Crikey

A decade ago, New Zealand had a higher rate of adult smoking than Australia. Now it’s lower, with smoking rates falling much faster in that time than in Australia, despite our self-proclaimed world leadership on anti-smoking measures. What’s happened? In 2013, 15.8% of Kiwis over the age of 15 smoked daily, compared with 12.8% of Australians over 14. In 2023, just 6.8% of Kiwis smoked, noticeably lower than 8.3% of Australians. New Zealand is on track to reach its target of 5% smoking by 2025 (though not for Maori populations).

Less restrictive vaping laws linked to faster smoking decline

University of Queensland

University of Queensland researchers have found smoking rates have declined twice as fast in New Zealand as in Australia, suggesting less restrictive regulation on vaping could improve public health outcomes. Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall from UQ’s National Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research said adult daily smoking rates in New Zealand dropped by 10 per cent per year between 2016 and 2023, in contrast to Australia’s smoking rate that declined by only 5 per cent per year.

Adult Smokers and Vapers Are Still Being Ignored — And It’s Costing Lives

The war on vaping continues, and adult smokers and vapers remain invisible in the conversation. While politicians and public health agencies claim to fight for “public health,” their policies and research overwhelmingly focus on youth vaping, completely disregarding the people who are dying from smoking-related diseases: adults.

Cranky

Skip Murray, Skip’s Corner, Let’s Talk!

Kevin Crowley lovingly gave me the handle of #CrankyOldBroad years ago. It is his term of endearment for my fighting spirit.

Joe Gitchell tells people to #BeLikeSkip, which reminds them to embrace my love of kindness and curiosity.

Both hashtags make me smile!

I can’t lie to you—it is one of those days when using a frying pan sounds inviting. And I don’t mean going home for some kitchen therapy and enjoying my love of cooking.

Most US Adults Who Quit Smoking Now Use Nicotine Products to Do So—Typically Vapes

Kiran Sidhu, Filter

Vapes have become the most popular and effective smoking cessation tools in the United States, a recent study indicates. Most US adults who want to quit smoking are now choosing nicotine products like vapes to help them—and succeeding—despite years of negative media and official messaging. The study, published in the Internal and Emergency Medicine journal in January, looked at “US adults who self-reported having stopped smoking cigarettes for 6 months or longer in the last year and the methods they used, or who did not stop smoking but tried in the last year.”

Click to visit Danish Vapers Association

Will a New Administration Result in a New Approach to Tobacco & Nicotine Regulation?

David Spross, NATO, Convenience Store News

In the early days of President Trump’s Administration, there have already been significant developments with the approach to proposed tobacco-related regulations. Within the first week after taking office, the administration withdrew two proposed rules: one banning menthol in cigarettes and the other banning flavored cigars. The Biden Administration delayed final adoption of these last April because the rules “garnered historic attention and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,” according to an April 26 statement from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Trump Could Pave the Way for a Future Without Smoking

Dr. Brad Rodu, DC Journal

Smoking kills half a million Americans every year — a devastating and decades-long toll that has become tiresome but still deserving of bold, science-driven solutions. For millions of smokers, kicking the habit once and for all is an impossibly difficult challenge that will end with disastrous health problems. Instead of embracing bans and pushing entrenched misconceptions, the Trump administration has an opportunity to embrace innovation and common sense to extend the lives of American adult smokers.

New Study Shows that E-Cigarettes Help Young Adult Smokers to Quit

Dr. Michael Siegel, The Rest of the Story

A new study published yesterday in the journal Addiction provides evidence that rather than serving as a gateway to smoking, the use of e-cigarettes helps young adult smokers to quit smoking completely. Excerpts of the study abstract follow: “Latent growth modeling was used to model daily cigarette smoking over time. Models using past-month ENDS use, past-month smoking/vaping cannabis, and past-month co-use of ENDS and cannabis (using ENDS and smoking/vaping cannabis within the past month) as time-varying covariates were tested.

New Study Demonstrates Why Anti-Vape Academics are Wrong

in Concluding that E-Cigarette Use Causes Heart Attacks and COPD

Also from Dr. Michael Siegel, The Rest of the Story

Numerous researchers and health groups have claimed that e-cigarette use increases the risk of heart attacks and COPD (example 1; example 2; example 3). For example, a clinician from UnityPoint Health warned that: “Vaping is bad for your heart. The truth is people who vape are 56% more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers and 30% more likely to suffer a stroke.” The American Lung Association warned that: “E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. It can cause acute lung injury and COPD and may cause asthma and lung cancer.”

Surge in illicit nicotine pouches underscores urgent need for regulated, safer alternatives

Jessica Perkins, Smoke Free Sweden

A surge in sales of illicit nicotine products in the UK highlights the urgent need for adult smokers to have viable, safer alternatives that are both affordable and appealing, according to leading international health experts. Smoke Free Sweden warns that without ready access to legal harm reduction products, such as nicotine pouches, consumers may turn to unregulated and potentially dangerous options, putting public health at risk. “Reports of a sharp rise in sales of illicit nicotine pouches highlights the demand for alternatives to smoking,” said Smoke Free Sweden leader Dr. Delon Human, a global harm reduction specialist.

Nicotine Control – Lies, Bans, Politics & Betrayal

Brent Stafford, Regulator Watch

Instead of celebrating, tobacco control, regulators, and activists have turned their guns on safer nicotine products—demonizing vaping, banning flavors, and destroying small businesses. In the U.S., independent vape companies are under siege, and in the UK—once the world’s leader in evidence-based policy—new laws are paving the way for outright prohibition. Joining us today to break down the lies, bans, politics, and betrayal in the war on nicotine are two of the most prolific voices in tobacco harm reduction: Lindsey Stroud, and Martin Cullip from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance out of Washington, D.C.

NEW ZEALAND’S SUCCESS STORY | This Is How New Zealand Outpaced Australia feat. Colin Mendelsohn

Global Forum on Nicotine

Why has New Zealand’s smoking rate dropped so far below Australia’s in recent years, and what can we subsequently learn from New Zealand’s approach to safer nicotine products? In this episode of GFN News THR advocate Colin Mendelsohn highlights the striking difference in approach to vaping in New Zealand and Australia. Enjoy!

On this Day…2024

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

New Zealand expert advises Australian policymakers on vaping

Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, Tobacco Treatment

DURING A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH) has been engaging with Australian policymakers to develop a best-practice vaping regulatory framework.

Will the Supreme Court Hear a Vaping Appeal Soon?

Jim McDonald, Vaping 360

Two vape manufacturers are seeking Supreme Court review of their unsuccessful appeals of FDA marketing denial orders (MDOs). Both have filed petitions for writs of certiorari with the high court in recent weeks.

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