Vape News Headlines: NHS Should Be More E-cig Friendly – Fight Begins To Save Flavoured E-liquids – VApril Challenge – EU Told Vaping Is Good For Health – Cosmic Fog Sells Shares To Big Tobacco – Walking Whilst Smoking Could Become Illegal….and Ivanka Trump Tests E-liquid…
NHS Stop Smoking Clinics Urged To Become E-Cig Friendly
In a bid to stop the dwindling numbers of smokers attending NHS Local Stop Smoking Services [LSSS] the boss of Public Health England says these clinics should be putting vaping front and centre.
Writing in the PHE blog Martin Dockrell says e-cigarettes are now the most popular smoking cessation tool in the UK with the majority of former smokers now making the switch to vaping completely.
However he believes that if more LSSS took a leaf out of the highly successful Hampshire based Quit4Life and embraced vaping they would see great numbers of users and successful quitters.
Quit4Life are the team behind the £25 vaping vouchers that after a trial run in Gosport has now been rolled out county wide.
The team has a seven point plan that Mr Dockrell is urging other LSSS to follow:
- Speak to vapers and people who want to stop smoking
- Help staff to develop and maintain up to date knowledge
- Talk to local retailers
- Let smokers know you’re e-cigarette friendly
- Engage with other healthcare professionals (HCPs)
- Continue to develop and improve
- Remember vaping isn’t for everybody, and some people just don’t get on with it
PHE has created a free online course all about e-cigarettes and vaping and Mr Dockrell hopes health professioanls will use the valuable training resource.
Mr Dockrell said:
LSSS should be open and welcoming to anyone who wants to use an EC as a quit aid, and this presents an excellent opportunity for services to work with more smokers.
We know that, alongside behavioural support and the offer of stop smoking medications, many stop smoking services are e-cigarette friendly and are already supporting smokers who want to stop with the help of an EC.
However, for those services that are early in their journey or looking to make improvements, the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training has set out the key elements for ensuring services are EC friendly.
These key elements – supported by the NNA – include:
- Recognise the potential benefit that e-cigarettes have in helping smokers to quit
- Respect the choices that clients make when considering what evidence-based methods to use for a quit attempt, including the choice to use an e-cigarette
- Operate a system of support, including behavioural support, for people who choose to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking
Mr Dockrell says the number of smokers making the switch to e-cigarettes could be many more IF LSSS follow the advice laid out by PHE:
…it’s important that LSSS embrace the opportunities that ECs offer and support smokers who choose ECs as a quit aid.
Recent estimates suggest that ECs could be contributing to up to 57,000 additional quitters per year in England – with LSSS on-board there’s a potential for many more.
Let’s hope many more do ’embrace’ e-cigs and vaping and maybe a few more NHS properties got rid of those vaping zones.
The Fight Begins To Save Flavoured E-liquids In America
Vapers and vaping advocacy groups have just 90 days to convince the US Government that flavoured e-liquids should not be banned.
The FDA is concerned at the apparent link between flavoured tobacco and e-liquids and the use of them by children.
I have written a far more detailed article on this – 90 Days To Save Flavoured E-Liquids From Being Banned – which includes ways you can help.
Interested parties – and that really should be ALL of you over the pond with any form of interest in vaping – need to submit their thoughts – comments and evidence as to why the should not be banned to the Federal Register BEFORE 19th June 2018.
VApril Challenge – Aimed At Getting More Smokers Switching To E-Cigs
The UK’s vaping industry is making a bold bid to get more smokers off the stinkies and onto vaping with the launch of the VApril Challenge.
Fronted by TV celebrity doctor Dr Christian Jessen – who co-hosts hit show Embarrassing Bodies – the month long event is the brainchild of the UK Vaping Industry Association and will include:
- Vaping Master Classes
- A Free Guide To Vaping
- And A Huge Social Media Campaign
This is the largest campaign of its kind run by the UK vaping industry and Dr Jessen said he was delighted to be involved adding:
I’d encourage you to take the first steps to quitting by taking the VApril challenge and learn about how vaping can be a life changing decision for the good of your health.
That’s why I’m a committed supporter of the idea of a national vaping awareness campaign such as VApril to encourage smokers to take the first steps to quitting their habit.
I’ve written a much larger article on this – Smokers: Don’t Be Fools This April Take Part In VApril! – so head over there now to find out more.
European Union Told ‘E-Cigarettes Are a Potential Game Changer for European Health’
Health experts met with the European Parliament last week to convince the MEPs that e-cigarettes had the potential to change the face of European health.
The debate was led by the Lega Italiana Anti Fumo and namely Giovanni La Via, Member of the European Parliament who along with others strongly believe Europe is ‘falling behind’ in the use of e-cigarettes.
La Via said:
I’m glad to have brought the Parliament attention to this important issue for public health.
Today we have listened to the results of scientific studies and researches from a high-level expert’s roundtable, which have illustrated to us the advantages of electronic cigarettes and the potential public health benefits that these products pose when compared to the conventional cigarettes.
As decision-makers, we need to take into considerations these results, confront with all the relevant actors involved in the process, and offer to these innovative products a clear regulatory environment.
He was joined by the excellent Professor Riccardo Polosa, University of Catania who told the MEP’s:
The EU needs to work together with the scientific community to ensure an evidence-based approach which promotes a harm reduction strategy for the good of European citizens.
This is an opportunity that Europe has so far missed out on.
It’s an opportunity for society to battle one of the most serious public health issues in Europe.
It is encouraging to witness the growing political will to change this.
Professor Linda Bauld, University of Stirling who also attended said:
There is currently no evidence that e-cigarettes are undermining efforts to reduce youth smoking in Europe.
It is important that unfounded fears about ‘the gateway effect’ do not detract from the contribution that e-cigarettes can make in helping current smokers to quit.
In the UK, where e-cigarette use has been particularly common, youth smoking rates continue to decline.
Given it was the EU’s knee-jerk reaction to the growth in use of e-cigarettes that has brought us some of the ridiculous aspects of the TPD let’s hope they listen.
Though if past performance is any prediction of future behaviour I doubt it with these folk – but hey every little helps 😉
Cosmic Fog and Big Tobacco’s Continued Creep Into Vaping
Well known e-liquid company Cosmic Fog has announced it has sold shares of it’s business to Fontem Ventures.
FV is a sister company to Imperial Brands who are behind well known cigarette brands such as Lambert and Butler – Gauloises and Winston whilst Fontem Ventures own e-cigarette brand Blu.
Cosmic Fog has been in production for the last 5 years and are a popular brand across America and indeed the world.
Fontem Ventures’ Chief Executive Officer, Titus Wouda Kuipers said:
We’re excited about this partnership with Cosmic Fog. Working alongside them shows our commitment to seeing the vaping category grow and prosper.
Becoming a partner in Cosmic Fog demonstrates that we love their passion and entrepreneurship. We see a great opportunity to learn from their expertise, particularly in the vape shop sales channel.
Cosmic Fog will continue to do what it does best – develop unique, high quality liquids with huge appeal to adult vapers.
Co-Founder of Cosmic Fog – Rob Crossley said:
We see this partnership as hugely beneficial, not only to our company but to the category as a whole, as it demonstrates Fontem’s support for a variety of vaping formats, including open systems.
I expect to see more of this type of deal over the coming months especially over in the US where e-liquid companies are under fire with a Government threat to ban flavoured e-liquids.
I mean lets face it Big Tobacco has the cash – the resources and indeed the lawyers to fight the looming ban.
Doesn’t sit right with me but hey that’s business for ya…your thoughts?
…and finally…Smoking Whilst Walking Could Be Made Illegal
Hahaha – er ha!
No seriously…
WT absolute F!
Just when you thought attitudes over in America couldn’t get anymore crazy towards smoking along comes New York City local politician Peter Koo who wants to see a ban imposed on people smoking whilst walking outdoors.
He’s hoping this will pass as a local law with ‘offenders’ fined up to $50!
Apparently standing and smoking will be legal under the bill he hopes to launch next week:
This bill is not against smoking just don’t do both together.
He said!
Given NYC is anti vaping as a city can get – apart from San Francisco that has banned flavoured e-liquids – so should this bill pass vaping whilst walking being illegal could be next!
Hopefully the bill won’t have the legs to get past the initial stage…
…and finally part 2…Ivanka Trump ‘Tests’ Nicotine Levels In E-liquid
If I was a full blown conspiracy theorist [I’m only half blown lol] I’d say it was NO coincidence that in the week nicotine came under intense fire over in the USA Ivanka Trump was photographed testing nicotine levels in e-liquid.
Sadly there’s no link and no real reason to put this photo up either – apart from the fact I think she’s bloody gorgeous – oops am I allowed to say that these days?
Ivanka took part in the experiment during a trip to the Waukee Aspiring Professional Experience’s (APEX) Innovation Learning Center – taking part in a number of experiments with the kids taught there.
She seemed impressed with the place saying:
This is so amazing. This is such a cool place to come. It’s going to be hard to get rid of us.
As to the nicotine level experiment she said:
I can’t promise that I’ll get this right, but at least we’ll look the part, right?
She certainly does look the part…and for that matter she can test my juice levels anytime…
“Oooooo Matron…”
*Shuffles Papers*
