New research shows that better regulation of e-cigarettes could save the lives of almost 200 million people in 61 countries. 

Research released today by The World Vapers’ Alliance together with its partner, the Consumer Choice Center, examined 61 countries and their regulation of e-cigarettes. The research concludes that with a regulatory regime that facilitates and encourages e-cigarettes as a means to quit smoking, 196 million of current smokers in those countries could switch to vaping – a 95% less harmful alternative.

Commenting on the research, Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance said:

“While the benefits of vaping as an alternative to smoking have been known for some time, today’s research shows just how significant the potential is: almost 200 million lives saved. If COVID has shown us anything, it’s that our health is paramount and regulators that want people to quit smoking need to be led by science and ensure that ideology takes a back seat to pragmatism.”

The World Vapers’ Alliance and the Consumer Choice Center looked at 61 countries around the world and compared the current rate of daily and occasional vapers. The United Kingdom’s progressive tobacco harm reduction policies are used as a reference point. On this basis, it was estimated how many current smokers could be helped to switch to vaping by having a more permissive vaping framework in each country.

Fred Roeder, Managing Director of the Consumer Choice Center, said about the report:

“Smart rules on advertising e-cigarettes to smokers, displaying e-cigarettes at the point of sale for cigarettes, lower rates of taxation for e-cigarettes, and public health bodies endorsing the evidence of vaping being at least 95% less harmful than traditional smoking, everything that the UK has done right, can help save the lives of thousands of smokers by helping them switch to vaping.”

In the UK, Public Health England, an agency of the Ministry of Health, is actively recommending smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, and accordingly, very progressive frameworks for vaping have been introduced. Due to these policies, the UK sees better results in reducing smoking compared to more restrictive countries. In the UK approximately 25% fewer people smoke today compared to 2013 when vaping became popular, while for example Australia, one of the countries with the toughest vaping regulations, saw a decline of only 8% in the same period. France, Canada and New Zealand followed an approach more similar to the UK and is seeing positive results.

“Therefore, politicians should also rethink the current approach towards vaping and see it as an opportunity for public health improvement as well”, concluded Michael Landl  

In support of the research, the World Vapers’ Alliance and the Consumer Choice Center launched an interactive map that shows how many smokers could potentially switch to vaping under a more progressive regulatory regime. The interactive map and the full data set can be found here: https://wvaold.wpengine.com/from-smoking-to-vaping/