Vapers Digest 9th July

Wednesday’s News at a glance:

Champions League of Harm Reduction ~ ETHRA Calls Out Comments ~ VPZ Writes to the Prime Minister ~ Flagship Industry Forum Returning ~ The best-laid plans…. ~ EXCLUSIVE: vaping and nicotine tax to be part of the EU budget ~ £100 fines for vaping at bus stops under proposed new powers ~ The Roy Morgan Saga Continues: How Australia’s Youth Smoking Crisis Was Buried, Edited, and Ignored ~ Courts in Two South Asian Countries Shut Down Vape Bans ~ Britain will follow Australia into a crime storm with the Tobacco and Vapes bill ~ Interview with Federico N. Fernández on “How Sweden Quit Smoking”. ~ When will EU health policy makers look at the successes in Sweden, the Czech Republic and Greece? ~ Public Voices Strong Opposition to Iceland’s Nicotine Bill ~ Tobacco harm reduction and the media – evidence, narrative and consequences – Keynote | #GFN25

Four From Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

Champions League of Harm Reduction

Brussels was transformed into a Champions League arena for tobacco harm reduction according to the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA). The organisation says it hosted a trophy ceremony in front of the European Parliament. Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece took centre stage, lifting the “Champions of Change” trophy for their remarkable victories in reducing smoking rates. At the same time, it says, the European Union (EU) remained stuck on the sidelines, clinging to outdated tactics.

ETHRA Calls Out Comments

The European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) has called out comments made by Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra during an EU Commission subcommittee on tax. It added that scientific and public health experts support a consumer-focussed position on tobacco harm reduction products taxation.

VPZ Writes to the Prime Minister

VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, the UK’s leading vaping retailer dedicated to responsible vaping and harm reduction, has written directly to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to express serious concerns over the Government’s recent decision to shelve proposed restrictions on alcohol advertising – a move it believes raises significant questions about public health priorities and regulatory consistency.

Flagship Industry Forum Returning

The UK Vaping Industry Association’s (UKVIA) flagship Industry Forum is returning at a pivotal moment for the sector and UKVIA says it will explore the radical change in thinking needed for vaping to reach its full smokefree potential. The event will take place on November 26 at the London Marriott Hotel, Regents Park. The conference will occur as the government approaches a decision on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the disposable vapes ban being in place, and ongoing geopolitical shifts that continue to impact the global supply chain.

The best-laid plans….

That Got Me Thinking

This is a follow up to the last post about our governments ability to do calculations. This one is about their inability to do government.

It turns out the proposed €5 per 10 ml duty on vaping liquid is delayed in it’s implementation. The minister blames the Revenue Commissioners who seemingly cannot get the job done before “much later this year” Back in November last year the then minister Jack Chambers announced this imposition of duty but did say it would take until the middle of next year to impose.

Two From Clearing The Air

EXCLUSIVE: vaping and nicotine tax to be part of the EU budget

Alastair Cohen

The long awaited EU Tobacco Excise Directive – which, as we revealed on Clearing the Air – will include massive increases on taxes for vapes and nicotine pouches – could be designed to directly finance the EU budget, according to leaked documents seen by Clearing the Air.

According to the note – a briefing for members of the Bundestag (the German Parliament) dated 7th July – the European Commission will present a proposal for so-called “own resources” next Wednesday (16th July 2025).

£100 fines for vaping at bus stops under proposed new powers

Tim Hong

Vapers across the UK could soon be fined up to £100 for using vapes at bus stops, under new powers being considered by Parliament.

The proposed changes would give local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, the right to issue fixed penalty notices to people caught vaping in certain public areas.

While vaping is already banned on buses and in stations, the law typically hasn’t extended to outdoor bus stops.

The Roy Morgan Saga Continues: How Australia’s Youth Smoking Crisis Was Buried, Edited, and Ignored

Alan Gore, Australia Let’s Improve Vaping Education (A.L.I.V.E.)

For years, Australia was hailed as a global success story in the war against tobacco. Bold policies like plain packaging, public education, and taxation helped push smoking rates steadily downward, especially among young people. But something has gone terribly wrong.

Recent data from Roy Morgan reveals a devastating reversal. Among Australians aged 18–24, smoking and vaping have surged to 27.8%, compared to 20.7% a decade ago. That’s a staggering 34% rise in nicotine use among young adults, a demographic that should’ve been safeguarded by decades of public health progress.

Courts in Two South Asian Countries Shut Down Vape Bans

Jim McDonald, Vaping 360

In two South Asian countries that share borders with India, recent court decisions have put the brakes on government attempts to impose outright vape bans. As in India, which prohibited vape product sales in 2019, the bans in Nepal and Pakistan’s Punjab Province were predicated on misplaced concerns over youth experimentation.

Britain will follow Australia into a crime storm with the Tobacco and Vapes bill

Christopher Snowdon, The Telegraph

“A terrified tobacco runner was forced to tie up his friends and then bind his own feet, before Alameddine gangsters allegedly began cutting off his big toe in a horrific moment that illustrates how violence is part of doing business in Sydney’s gang wars.”

This opening line, from the Sydney Morning Herald last month, is the kind of thing you might expect in a story about the cocaine trade, but it was a tonne of illegal tobacco stored in a warehouse that the gang was after.

Interview with Federico N. Fernández on “How Sweden Quit Smoking”.

Joseph Hart, The Daily Pouch

In late 2023, I attended and reviewed the world premiere of We Are Innovation’s documentary “How Sweden Quit Smoking”. It was a great night, befitting a movie that celebrated the Nordic countries’ fantastic success in tackling and virtually eliminating smoking among their population by ensuring the availability of snus, and more recently, nicotine pouches.

When will EU health policy makers look at the successes in Sweden, the Czech Republic and Greece?

Alberto Gómez Hernández, Brussels Report

Last week, Brussels became the stage for a Champions League-style ceremony held just outside the European Parliament (picture). Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece were crowned “Champions of Change” by the World Vapers’ Alliance for their leadership in tobacco harm reduction. These countries have proven that pragmatic, evidence-based strategies—focused on safer alternatives rather than prohibition—are the fastest and most effective way to reduce smoking. Yet, while they deliver results, the EU remains hesitant to follow, clinging to outdated policies that are failing millions of smokers. Will Brussels finally take note?

Public Voices Strong Opposition to Iceland’s Nicotine Bill

Michael Chapman, Iceland Review

The Icelandic government’s draft legislation aimed at tightening restrictions on nicotine products has drawn significant criticism during its public consultation phase.

As reported by local media, including Iceland News, the bill proposes a sweeping overhaul by combining all existing tobacco and nicotine control laws into a single framework.

Key measures include banning flavoured nicotine products deemed appealing to children, introducing plain packaging similar to tobacco, prohibiting online sales, requiring production permits, and enforcing ID checks for purchases. Stricter penalties for breaches are also proposed.

Tobacco harm reduction and the media – evidence, narrative and consequences – Keynote | #GFN25

Global Forum on Nicotine

GFN 2025 Keynote #1 – delivered by Jacob Grier, hosted by Marina Murphy, response from Harry Shapiro – titled “Tobacco harm reduction and the media – evidence, narrative and consequences”. Jacob will highlight how, despite positive gains made by advocates for drug harm reduction, tobacco harm reductionists face an uphill battle to be heard, let alone get the evidence across. From outdated media narratives to prohibitionist policies and their consequences, he will guide us through the current state of THR and tobacco control messaging, and help advocates create compelling narratives that share the evidence underpinning THR.

On this day…2021

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

British Medical Journal Falsely Claimed

“Harm Reduction Advocates and the Tobacco Industry Capitalised on the Pandemic to Promote Nicotine”

Brad Rodu, Tobacco Truth

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) on June 2 published an article, titled “Research Integrity”, authored by two investigative journalists. Aping the position of the World Health Organization, they accuse harm reduction advocates and the tobacco industry of undermining decades of tobacco control. The BMJ notes that the article was “externally peer reviewed.”

Prison Sentences for Smuggling Vapes