Brussels, BE – Today, the Consumer Choice Center and the World Vapers’ Alliance published a new paper on the war on nicotine, arguing that there are evidence-based reasons to end it in Europe and globally.

Vaping and other alternatives such as nicotine pouches have been recognised as far less harmful than smoking, and yet their lifesaving qualities continuously come under fire for a variety of reasons. The consumption of nicotine is one of them.

The paper examines six main reasons why the war on nicotine is unreasonable, ineffective and ignorant of a growing body of evidence.

Six main reasons why the war on nicotine should end:

1. Folk indtager nikotin, men de dør af rygning
2. Nicotine in patches & gums is not a problem — it is neither when vaped nor in a pouch
3. Afhængighed er kompleks og ikke løst af en krig mod nikotin
4. Nicotine makes some people smarter, stronger and more attractive
5. Misforståelser om nikotin hæmmer folkesundheden
6. Forbud virker aldrig

Nikotin er ikke din fjende

Commenting on the findings, Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance and a co-author of the paper, said: “Anti-vaping-diskursen er fyldt med dobbeltstandarder om nikotin. Hvis vi skal være konsekvente omkring nikotin, er vi nødt til at behandle vaping med samme åbenhed og opmuntring som nikotinerstatningsterapi, såsom plastre. På grund af innovation kan nikotinforbruget endelig afkobles fra rygningens farlige virkninger og hjælper derfor millioner af rygere med at forbedre deres helbred. Og alligevel er nikotin uberettiget dæmoniseret. Dette må slutte."

Reducing the number of smokers and allowing them to rapidly and efficiently switch to a less harmful alternative should be a major priority for governments and public health agencies worldwide. To achieve that, the stigma around nicotine should stop.

“Vi sigter efter at bruge vores nye papir som et faktaark til at afsløre mange myter, der omgiver nikotinforbud. Potentielle fordele ved nikotin skal udforskes, og objektive videnskabelige bestræbelser skal sikres,” said Maria Chaplia, Research Manager at the Consumer Choice Center.