High prices, flavor bans and difficulty finding the products. These are the reasons why smokers, who also use e-cigarettes, do not quit smoking completely. This is according to a major new survey of e-cigarette users in Europe.
In 2020, the organization carried out ETHRA, European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, the largest survey of e-cigarette users in the EU to date. 35,000 vejp users answered questions on how their habits are affected by legislation, restrictions and availability.
"The survey was available in 16 languages and is based on the voluntary participation of users in countries where the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) is implemented". Writes ETHRA in the report "The EU Nicotine User Survey 2020"
Tough regulations prevent smokers from quitting
According to ETHRA's report, 83% of the 35,000 participants have quit smoking completely with the help of vejpning. However, 17% (5,939 people) reported that they still smoke on the side. Of these, 70% would like to quit smoking completely.
"We also asked what factors influence the decision to switch completely to e-cigarettes. It turns out that tough regulations and taxes are some of the biggest reasons why smokers don't switch." writes ETHRA.
High taxes make e-cigarettes too expensive
A total of 24% cite the cost of vejpa as a main reason for not completely replacing cigarettes. 12% responded that it is the availability of the products that influences. But according to ETHRA, there is a big difference between countries, both in terms of prices and availability. And this clearly affects the number of smokers who do not take the full step to quit.
"In Germany, which at the time had no tax on e-liquidOnly a small proportion, 11% of smokers, said that price was a reason for switching completely. In contrast, in Finland, where both a flavor ban and a tax of SEK 30 per 10 ml are in place, almost half, 43%, said that price and availability prevented them from switching completely to e-cigarettes," ETHRA writes in its analysis.
Similar figures are found in Italy, Portugal and Estonia. According to ETHRA, the survey clearly shows that high costs will determine how many smokers switch to e-cigarettes.
Reducing harm for smokers who quit completely
According to the Royal College of Physicians, the smokers who switch to vejpning are likely to reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases by almost 95% or more. But this requires smokers to switch completely to e-cigarettes. The risks of smoking remain widespread even with reduced use, according to the British Cancer Society, which together with the RCOF and the Department of Health wants to use e-cigarettes to reduce smoking in England.
"This means that in countries that use taxes and other types of restrictions, such as flavor bans to control vejp products, politicians are effectively preventing smokers from quitting using e-cigarettes. Legislation becomes a barrier to better health," writes ETHRA in its analysis.
