Vapers Digest 28th February
Wednesday’s News at a glance
New England Journal of Medicine Backs Vapes as Harm Reduction ~ E-cigarette use is associated with cardiovascular disease… in the same way that statins cause myocardial infarction!! ~ Black Americans deserve real tobacco harm reduction options ~ Bloomberg on nicotine pouches in finance: “Move over Adderall” ~ Europe’s respiratory specialists don’t support harm reduction: is this news? ~ Nearly 400,000 vape kits to be sent to smokers ~ Parliament ~ CAPHRA Highlights Tobacco Control Flaws ~ Scotland Announces Single-Use Vape Action ~ Vaping bill stripped of licensing requirements and stiffer penalties passes House; sponsor says alternate bill on retailing is expected ~ Ministers consider new vaping tax at Budget next week ~ A vape tax would make a mockery of Sunak’s smoke-free ambition
Earlier in February, the New England Journal of Medicine published both a study highlighting the harm reduction efficacy of vapes and an accompanying editorial, stating that “US public health agencies and professional medical societies should reconsider their cautious positions on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.”
Coming from one of the world’s most prestigious peer-reviewed journals, these felt like highly significant choices. The editorial, authored by Harvard Medical School Professor Nancy Rigotti, added that, “The evidence has brought e-cigarettes to a tipping point.
E-cigarette use is associated with cardiovascular disease…
in the same way that statins cause myocardial infarction!!
Black Americans deserve real tobacco harm reduction options
Robert “Bob” Beamon, Salon
Achieving health equity has been one of my life’s passions since I fought for civil rights alongside giants like Harry Edwards, who taught me that top-down fixes fail marginalized communities. Lasting change happens when those facing injustice shape solutions based on lived experience.
As debates bubble on public health policies, we must ask whether proposed reforms actually empower Black Americans – or impose supposed benefits without input from those impacted. Too often, those closest to the pain lack power in health policy conversations.
Bloomberg on nicotine pouches in finance: “Move over Adderall”
Maddison King, The Daily Pouch
Recently, two heretical Bloomberg journalists ran the risk of ex-communication by stating that nicotine does not cause cancer. While they may have told the truth, they strayed from the usual anti-nicotine line of Bloombergs supposed philanthropic arm. However, things are getting back to normal with the financial news site’s latest piece of nicotine pouches.
Zyn, Nicotine Pouches Gain Traction With Office Workers has shone the spotlight on nicotine pouch use in the tech and financial services industry. The piece suggests that workers in tech and finance are using nicotine pouches to stay alert and high-performing.
Europe’s respiratory specialists don’t support harm reduction: is this news?
Tiziana Cauli, Tobacco Intelligence
No smoking and no nicotine consumption at all is better for your health than quitting cigarettes without quitting nicotine.
At the same time, anyone under-age should, of course, stay away from e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and all sorts of nicotine-containing novel tobacco products, which are meant for adult users only.
Nearly 400,000 vape kits to be sent to smokers
Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News, Lexington Times
The House passed a watered-down bill to address youth vaping Thursday, Feb. 22, after a committee removed provisions to require vape shops be licensed and raise penalties for their violations.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, told Kentucky Health News that he took out the licensing and penalty provisions because Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, was expected to file a bill to address those issues without the education components of his bill. The deadline for new House bills is Monday, Feb. 26, but new legislation can also be added by amendments.
Ministers consider new vaping tax at Budget next week
Henry Zeffman & Paul Seddon, BBC News
The government is considering announcing a new tax on vapes at the Budget next week.
Currently, vaping products are subject to VAT – but unlike tobacco, they are not also subject to a dedicated levy.
Tobacco duty could also increase at the Budget, to ensure that vaping remains cheaper.
A vape tax would make a mockery of Sunak’s smoke-free ambition
Christopher Snowdon, CAPX
After alienating users of cigarettes and disposable vapes, you would’ve thought there wasn’t much more the Tories could do to make themselves less popular among this demographic. But wait! They could always tax e-cigarette fluid.
According to reports today, that is what Jeremy Hunt will be announcing in the Budget next week. It is a terrible idea for various reasons and shows the Government’s approach to vaping to be an incoherent mess. As a health policy, it is diabolical. There is plenty of evidence showing that raising the price of vapes increases the sale of cigarettes.
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