For the second year in a row, vejpers around the world are celebrating World Vape Day. Under the slogan "Switching is Quitting", scientists, activists and ordinary vejpers are calling on the world's politicians to change their minds about the importance of harm reduction for smokers.
"Commit to quit"
This is the World Health Organization's message to smokers on World No Tobacco Day (31 May). Patches, gum, nasal sprays and medicines are at the top of the list of aids to encourage smokers to throw their cigarettes in the trash.
But that is not enough, says the consumer network INNCOwhich, together with its members from around the world and several other organizations, is launching World Vape Day - Sunday, May 30th. (Under the slogan "Switching is quitting", World Vape Day promotes harm reduction and products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and snus.
"We want to show that there is another way of thinking about smoking cessation. That the WHO completely misses the harm reduction requirement that is actually in their own convention on tobacco prevention" says Atakan Befrits, vejpare, activist and representative of INNCO to Vejpkollen.
Grassroots raising their voices
For the second year in a row, vejpare and tobacco harm reduction activists are launching their own campaign to raise awareness of the value of harm reduction products among smokers and politicians. Behind the INNCO, International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations, there are over 35 local consumer associations for nicotine users. Atakan Befrits comes from the New Nicotine Alliance Sweden.
"We are grassroots movements made up of former smokers and we demand to make our voices heard. The WHO says that those who switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes or snus have not quit smoking. This is absurd. If you don't smoke, you don't smoke. It is as simple as that. Switching is quitting"
WHO view on vejpning devastating
The WHO manifesto and advice to member countries is to regulate alternative nicotine products in the same way as smoking tobacco. Tobacco companies are the enemy, no matter what product they launch. "We celebrate No Tobacco Day to draw the world's attention to the dangerous activities of tobacco companies," says the World Health Organization on its campaign website.
WHO's stance on harm reduction products has devastating consequences for smokers, new and old, says Atakan Befrits. According to him, the WHO is deliberately distorting the point of harm reduction, in favor of other interests.
"According to the WHO, all nicotine, which is not controlled by pharmaceutical companies, is by definition part of the tobacco industry. This is an image that is spreading around the world, leading to legislation that is directly harmful to nicotine users trying to quit smoking tobacco" says Atakan Befrits.
Bans on flavors are illogical
Prohibition of flavors in e-cigarettes, including discussed in Swedenand sometimes total ban of vejp products are just a few examples, says Atakan Befrits.
"If smoking tobacco and cigarettes were banned first, I would understand the reasoning. But as long as smoking is allowed and people choose to use nicotine, it is reprehensible to ban or severely restrict the less harmful alternatives." says Atakan Befrits.
Swedish prohibitionist mentality is contagious
According to INNCO, access to alternative, less harmful nicotine products is therefore a human right. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, where access to alternatives to smoking tobacco is currently non-existent. WHO has actively encouraged these countries to either heavily regulate or ban products such as snus and electronic cigarettes.
"It's a prohibitionist mentality that can be traced to Swedish tobacco policy," says Atakan Befrits. "If Sweden could do ONE thing to improve the health of smokers in the world, it would be to introduce harm reduction as part of its tobacco strategy. The concept is not even included in the Swedish translation of the WHO Tobacco Convention. It has become an obstacle to improving the health of smokers, not only in Sweden but in the rest of the world. Sweden is seen as a pioneer country, we have low rates of smoking due to snus, but our authorities do not recognize this. Because harm reduction is not something we do"
Live broadcasts and Twitter campaigns
World Vape Day can be followed on several social media platforms and takes place on Sunday, May 30.
World vape days official website
Materials, information and how vejpare can help spread the "Switching is quitting" message
World Vape Day Twitter channel.
The official tag is #worldvapeday (but also #WVD21)
The media channel Regulator Watch will be broadcasting live throughout the day, with guests from different parts of the world on the theme of Tobacco Harm Reduction.
WORLD VAPE DAY 2021 | North American coverage | RegWatch (Live)
Follow also the project Golden Oldies Capitol Tours on Facebook- where American vejpers talk about how they quit smoking.
