Tag: World Vapers Alliance

WVA Raises Alarm About Misperceptions of Vaping

Photo: WVA
The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) marked World Vape Day with a protest in front of the World Health Organization’s in Geneva today. Participants in the event urged the global health body to listen to consumers and acknowledge the scientific evidence supporting vaping, nicotine pouches and similar products as valid harm reduction tools.
The consumper group says it is concerned about the rampant “misperception epidemic” surrounding tobacco harm reduction. Recent research by Ipsos for the think tank We Are Innovation shows that 74 percent of smokers worldwide wrongly believe that vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking. This misconception, fueled by misinformation, is preventing millions from switching to a scientifically proven less harmful alternative, according to the WVA.
“The WHO [World Health Organization] has turned World No Tobacco Day into a propaganda day,” said WVA Director Michael Landl in a statement. “Sweden is about to become smoke-free thanks to alternative nicotine products.
“The WHO needs to stop fighting alternative nicotine products and start backing them as keys to a smoke-free future. The WHO’s false claims are fueling a deadly misperception epidemic. Smokers deserve the truth: Vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. Accurate knowledge could save millions of lives.”
May 30, 2024
WVA: EU Harm Reduction Approach ‘Out of Touch’

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The European Commission’s approach to tobacco harm reduction is out of touch with EU citizens’ views, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA)
A recent public consultation on the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), analyzed by Snusforumet, reveals a substantial consensus among citizens, NGOs and scientific institutions on the effectiveness of harm-reduction products in assisting smokers to quit.
A striking 77 percent of respondents recognize these products as helpful smoking cessation tools, while a mere 9 percent of EU citizens disagree. Furthermore, an overwhelming 82 percent of respondents refute the notion that new nicotine alternatives pose a risk to public health, with only 6 percent perceiving them as a threat.
“The EU Commission’s current stance on harm reduction is not just out of touch; it’s a blatant disregard for consumer opinions and scientific evidence,” said WVA Director Michael Landl in a statement. “It’s high time the Commission responds to the reality that harm-reduction products are not the enemy but a vital ally in the fight against smoking.”
According to the WVA, countries like Sweden serve as living proof of the success of a consumer-friendly harm reduction approach, significantly outpacing the EU in reducing smoking rates. The EU Commission’s reluctance to embrace this approach is not only perplexing but also detrimental to public health efforts, the organization says.
“Sweden’s success story is a testament to what can be achieved with a sensible harm reduction policy,” said Landl. “It’s baffling and frankly irresponsible for the EU Commission to continue its hostile approach towards these life-saving products. The Commission needs to align its policies with the clear evidence and public opinion, rather than clinging to outdated and ineffective methods.”
January 15, 2024
EU Public Health Endorses Vapes to Quit Smoking

The European Union’s Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT) has endorsed the potential role of vaping in supporting smoking cessation.
Parliament’s report on non-communicable diseases acknowledges that vaping is a way for smokers to quit smoking combustible cigarettes gradually. However, the SANT’s recommendation to ban vaping in some public areas has sparked debate and concern.
Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said Parliament’s recognition that vaping can help smokers quit is a step in the right direction.
“With the well-documented success of vaping as a smoking cessation aid, it’s crucial for the EU to fully embrace this tool within its strategy to reduce smoking-related illnesses,” he said. “Vaping not only offers a way out for smokers but is instrumental in achieving public health goals.”
Despite this recognition, the report’s proposal to extend smoking bans to vaping is seen as problematic, according to Landl.
“Treating vaping the same as smoking in public spaces sends the wrong message to smokers who want to quit. There is no evidence of harm from secondhand vaping,” Landl said. “The Subcommittee must reconsider the broader impact, including the risk of former smokers relapsing. A more thoughtful regulatory approach based on common sense is imperative to ensure that vaping remains a viable option for those committed to quitting cigarettes.”
November 7, 2023
Portugal Considers Ban on Public Use, Online Sales

Credit: Paulo MF Pires
The government in Portugal is discussing a new draft law regulating vaping and other tobacco product use. The new EU delegated act of the Tobacco Products Directive would be brought into the national legislation on heated tobacco products, including several provisions on vaping that have not been a part of the original delegated act.
Draft Law No. 88/XV aims to extend smoke-free areas’ restrictions to the use of vaping products – effectively banning vaping in outdoor spaces such as the terraces of bars and restaurants – and to restrict the sale of vaping products by banning online sales, according to an emailed press release.
Alberto Gómez Hernández, community manager of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said the measures represent a step backward in the adoption of an “open and evidence-based approach” to alternative nicotine products.
“Instead of making it more difficult for smokers to access safer nicotine products, Portugal should follow the steps of countries that are successfully reducing smoking rates by encouraging smokers to switch, such as the United Kingdom and Sweden,” he said. “Banning the online sale of vaping products leaves smoking as the only option for those who do not have alternative nicotine product outlets nearby.”
October 3, 2023
WVA Says Hungary Proposed Vape Rules Excessive

The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA), a global vaping consumer advocacy group, has great concern for the Hungarian Government’s draft decree which aims to amend the current regulation of nicotine pouches and vaping.
The proposed regulations, if enacted, would introduce restrictions that may hinder access to safer alternatives for smokers and harm reduction options, according to an emailed press release.
Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said, “While it’s important to ensure the safety and proper labelling of nicotine products, it’s equally crucial to avoid excessive regulation that could impede the availability of harm reduction products for smokers looking to transition away from combustible cigarettes.”
The proposed amendments, with a maximum nicotine content of 17mg per consumption unit reflect an approach that may inadvertently limit the appeal of nicotine pouches to smokers seeking alternatives.
“Moreover, the WVA expresses concerns about the potential implications of the draft Decree’s proposed modifications to vaping product regulations,” the release states. “The amendments, which target unit packet definitions, nicotine amounts, and labelling requirements, could impose unwarranted restrictions on vaping products. While addressing health concerns is important, the proposed changes should be carefully evaluated to ensure they do not deter smokers from adopting less harmful alternatives.”
Whilst health and safety standards are crucial, regulations should be crafted with a balanced approach that considers both consumer health and the potential of these products to save lives, according to Landl.
“We encourage the Hungarian Government to start accepting reality: harm reduction works! This year, Sweden is becoming the first smoke-free country due to a consumer-friendly harm reduction approach,” he said. “It is high time to learn from the Swedish experience and thereby save thousands of Hungarian lives. With a smart harm reduction approach, Hungary can become smoke-free.”
The standstill period for review and objection by the European Commission and Member States ends on 8th November 2023, after which the Hungarian Government may enact the proposed regulations. The WVA remains committed to advocating for evidence-based policies prioritizing public health and consumer choice.
August 14, 2023
Activists Slam Latest WHO Report as Misguided

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The World Health Organization’s recently published report on the global tobacco “pandemic” discounts the impact of harm reduction and vaping, according to Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance
“While filled with biased anti-vaping scaremongering and unfounded claims, the report’s overall direction is perplexing. Instead of prioritizing the crucial goal of reducing smoking rates, the WHO is directing its focus on vaping, which happens to be the most potent smoking cessation tool available.”
In the report’s foreword, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asserts that vaping would undermine anti-smoking efforts, claiming that e-cigarettes are harmful to both the people using them and those around them.
“Regrettably, the WHO appears to ignore reality and scientific evidence,” said Landl in a statement. “Countries that adopt an open and consumer-friendly approach to harm reduction products achieve significantly better results than those following WHO’s misguided path. Comparative data from Sweden and the United Kingdom demonstrate their remarkable success in reducing smoking rates, surpassing countries with a negative harm reduction approach by a wide margin.”
The WHO report also claims a gateway effect from vaping to smoking and alleges that vaping flavors target children. It further highlights that 121 countries have adopted vaping regulations, with 34 completely banning vape sales.
“The outdated and debunked theories propagated by the WHO report pose risks to public health,” said Landl. “The notion of a gateway effect from vaping to smoking lacks evidence. Furthermore, flavors are essential for adults as they play a crucial role in helping millions of smokers transition to vaping. Additionally, celebrating countries which ban a way less harmful alternative for smokers is absurd.”
According to a review of 15 studies, “a true gateway effect in youths has not yet been demonstrated,” according to Landl. Factors such as anxiety, parental smoking habits, peer attitudes and household income must be considered, he noted. Another study found that vaping is not a gateway to smoking but rather that negative circumstances in teenagers’ lives lead to risky behaviors. According to the Yale School of Public Health, vaping flavored e-cigarettes is linked to a 230 percent increase in adult smoking cessation, and a flavor ban, as suggested by the WHO, could drive five out of 10 vapers back to smoking or the black market.
“The lack of empathy for smokers and vapers, coupled with the outright denial of scientific findings, will have severe consequences for many lives,” said Landl. “The WHO seems to have lost sight of its ultimate goal – reducing smoking rates. While we all agree that teenagers should not smoke or vape, the report notes that only 45 percent of countries ban e-cigarette sales to minors, and 10 percent of countries impose no age restrictions on cigarette purchases. Why not address these real-life challenges? The WHO systematically disregards an abundance of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of vaping, not to mention the experiences of millions of vapers. Vaping is 95 percent less harmful than smoking and a more effective method to quit smoking compared to traditional products like gum and patches. Restricting or banning access to vaping will only lead to unnecessary loss of lives.”
August 1, 2023
WVA Launches Vaping Campaign in Czech Republic

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The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) launched its European campaign to back vaping and beat smoking in Prague, Czech Republic, to encourage politicians to support vaping as an effective harm reduction tool.
As a part of the campaign, WVA delivered the Vaping Products Directive to the Minister of Health in the Czech Republic. The global advocacy group for vapers’ rights hosted a protest art installation in the city center of Prague with the message “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall.” The installation displayed a set of falling dominoes that represent lives fallen from smoke-induced illnesses, according to a release.
“Every year, more than 700,000 people in Europe and 17,000 in the Czech Republic die from tobacco-smoking illnesses. These are catastrophic numbers if we think about how many lives could be saved by consumer-friendly vaping regulations. Therefore, we hope the Czech government further increases its commitment towards harm reduction,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA. “The Czech government also needs to push back against attacks on vaping and other less harmful alternatives on the EU level. Our #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign serves to raise awareness that 19 million lives in Europe could be saved if we embrace vaping as a powerful tool to quit smoking in the Czech Republic and on the EU level.”
Along with the installation, WVA hosted a round-table discussion with the Czech experts and media representatives on the future of harm reduction in the Czech Republic. Michal “Godwin” Zrdazil, the founder of Spolek Nekuraku and WVA partner, said the situation around tobacco smoking in the Czech Republic is still worrying.
“Smoking numbers are one of the highest in Europe. But as vapers, we encourage the government to commit to tobacco harm reduction even more,” Nekuraku said. “Vaping has proven to be the most successful aid in helping people quit cigarette smoking and should be the cornerstone of the national harm reduction strategy against tobacco smoking,”
WVA’s “Back Vaping, Beat Smoking” campaign has already been launched in France and Poland and will extend to Italy, Portugal, and Belgium in the coming weeks. WVA is also running a public petition to call on the European legislators to embrace vaping as a smoking cessation aid on the EU level. The petition is available at www.worldvapersalliance.com/back-vaping-beat-smoking.
October 20, 2022
WVA Campaigns for Harm Reduction in Strasbourg

Photo: WVA
As a kickoff for the #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign, representatives of the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) presented Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg with a “Vaping Products Directive” to show how e-cigarettes need to be treated to fulfill their potential as tobacco harm reduction tools.
The campaign launches as European legislators review the Tobacco Products Directive. Responding to the EU Commission’s public call for evidence, the WVA has spoken out against flavor bans and excessive regulation.
“By backing vaping, we can beat smoking and save 19 million lives with sensible regulation,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA. “The EU call for evidence has seen a record number of 24,000 responses, showing that consumers want to embrace tobacco harm reduction, and it happens that vaping has been proven one of the most successful so far.
“The EU needs to put an end to current discussions about flavor bans, and vaping must be kept affordable and accessible. It is time for the EU to fully endorse tobacco harm reduction and to make vaping a centerpiece of it.”
The #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign launched in Strasbourg, France, with a “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall” protest art installation and will spread to 10 cities in six countries during October 2022 through November 2022.
“We will host community events and protests in France, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal and Belgium to draw attention to one of the most crucial pieces of legislation for the future of vaping. It is time for politicians to listen to consumers and science,” said Landl in a statement.
The WVA has also launched a petition against harmful vaping regulation, such as flavor bans or high taxation on vaping products. The signatures will be delivered to Members of the European Parliament at the end of the tour in November.

October 8, 2022
Group Urges Swedish Lawmakers to Stop Flavor Ban
Credit: Anette Andersen
The global vaping advocacy group World Vapers Alliance this week delivered an open letter to the Swedish parliament urging policymakers to stop the flavor ban.
World Vapers’ Alliance held another protest yesterday to stand against the ban on vape flavors. The group marched in front of the Parliament with the slogan “Flavors help smokers quit” during parliament’s session and delivered an open letter to members of parliament to urge them to vote against the ban, according to a press release.
Earlier this year, the Swedish government introduced a bill that would prohibit all non-tobacco vape flavours in nicotine and non-nicotine products. If approved, the bill is set to enter into force on 1 January 2023.
“I benefited first hand from vaping and managed to stay smoke free for the last few years,” said Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance. “Like most other smokers, I tried to find a way out of cigarettes – but nothing worked for me, the patches, the gums, the inhalers. Vaping – and especially combined with flavors – was my savior. And like me there are millions around the world who are healthier and lead a better life because of vaping.”
May 26, 2022
EU Advocacy Group Petitioning Policymakers on Flavors
Credit: WVA
A global alliance of vapers gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to call on European policymakers to stand against possible bans on flavored vaping products. The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) displayed an art installation in front of the European Parliament with a simple message – “Flavors help smokers quit.”
This marks the third event of WVA’s Europe-wide campaign #FlavoursMatter, according to a press release. The campaign was launched with one aim: to show policymakers in Europe and across the world that vape flavors are instrumental for smoking cessation.
The group hosted demonstrations in Stockholm, Sweden and the Hague, Netherlands in March 2022. Shortly after the demonstration, a postponement of the Dutch vape flavor ban by six months was announced in the Netherlands.
“Flavors play a crucial role in helping consumers quit smoking – millions of Europeans have already stopped by switching to vaping. The variety of flavors is one of the most important reasons many people switch to e-cigarettes and never go back to smoking. We have already seen that vaping works,” says Michael Landl, director of World Vapers’ Alliance. “It helped millions of people change their lives and now, we need policies to catch up. Therefore, we are delighted that some MEPs are with us and help to defend vaping flavors.”
The installation was attended by Member of the European Parliament Pietro Fiocchi.
“We all agree that not smoking is the best choice, but we also know very well that tax increases and limitations are not working solutions. I do strongly believe that alternative systems to traditional smoking are the biggest instrument to greatly reduce the percentage of lung diseases and cancer,” said Fiocchi. “Any ideological approach against such systems is negative and against any scientific data.”
May 13, 2022