Brussels, 12.09.2022. EN kortlægge conducted by the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) among its members found that 97% of respondents prefer vaping flavours or a combination of flavours and tobacco taste. Additionally, higher taxation would push almost a third of vapers to the black market. The WVA urges politicians to listen to consumers and avoid regulations and bans, creating a public health disaster. 

Michael Landl, direktør for World Vapers' Alliance, sagde: 

“The survey among our members confirms what science has repeatedly proved: flavours are essential for people to quit smoking. Bans and high taxation only boost the black market and push many vapers back to smoking. It is time that politicians start listening to those most affected by their policies: the consumers!” 

Hovedresultater af undersøgelsen: 

Smagsvarianter: 

• Hele 97% af respondenterne foretrækker vaping-smagsvarianter eller en kombination af smagsvarianter og tobakssmag. Kun 3% siger, at de foretrækker tobak. 
• Hvis smagsvarianter blev forbudt, ville mere end halvdelen af dampere forsøge at få deres smagsvarianter på det sorte marked eller vende tilbage til rygning. 21% siger, at de udelukkende ville dampe tobaksaroma, og 16% tror, at de ville holde op med at dampe. 

Skattestigninger: 

• Skattestigninger ville splitte forbrugsadfærden hos vapers: 
  • 31% ville fortsætte med at dampe, som de gør nu, og betale den højere pris;
  • 30% siger, at de ville dampe mindre for at kompensere for den øgede pris;
  • 28% ville forsøge at få deres produkter på det sorte marked.

Medier: 

• Vapers føler, at medierne er ensidige og ikke objektive nok, når de dækker vaping. Hele 75% vurderede mediedækningen i deres lande som ugunstig.  

Gældende regulering: 

• Vapers evaluate the current regulatory framework similarly. 60% of respondents are dissatisfied with the current way vaping is treated by their governments.

The survey was conducted among members of the WVA. The total number of respondents was 415 in 36 countries. 

“These results show that those who can afford higher prices would pay the additional price and don’t change their behaviour. The worrying aspect is that for many vaping would become a luxury good, and almost a third would be pushed to the black market. Politicians must finally consider those unintended consequences when proposing new legislation”, added Landl.  

With the Tobacco Products Directive on the horizon, the WVA calls on the EU institutions to follow a risk-based approach to vaping. Future regulation must be based on science and the experience of millions of consumers. Less harmful products should be treated differently than cigarettes.