Today UK Health Minister Neil O\u2019Brian announced\u00a0the United Kingdom will further double down on backing vaping as a smoking cessation tool by encouraging one million smokers to swap cigarettes with free vape starter kits, provide financial incentives to pregnant women to quit smoking, and introduce mandatory information sheet inserts into cigarettes packs.<\/p>\n
The World Vapers\u2019 Alliance, a global vaping consumer organisation, praises the UK government\u2019s commitment. These measures will strengthen the UK\u2019s position as one of the tobacco harm reduction champions worldwide, says Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers\u2019 Alliance:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK is a smoking-cessation champion and harm reduction leader worldwide. Smoking rates have fallen by more than 29% in the last decade since vaping became widely popular, and the government must double down on embracing vaping. The broad adoption of vaping due to strong political backing and sound medical evidence is why smoking rates decrease faster than in other countries. Further helping smokers to switch will accelerate the UK\u2019s success story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Politico recently\u00a0reported\u00a0that some ministers were considering imposing higher taxes on vaping products, and enforcing new regulations on packaging and flavours in response to the Khan Review\u00a0published last year. This would endanger the progress achieved by fully embracing vaping for smokers.<\/p>\n
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