For us vapers this was clear from the get-go: vaping is a gateway out of smoking, but now we have even more scientific confirmation. Those who continue to claim that vaping turns people into smokers should take the time to read the science. 

Public Health England’s (PHE) seventh independent report on vaping in England, carried out by researchers at the renowned King’s College London, found that vaping is the most commonly used means to quit smoking. The report shows that:

• Vaping is the most popular aid (27.2%) used by smokers trying to quit in England in 2020
• More than 50,000 smokers stopped smoking in 2017 with the aid of vaping

‘Listen to the science’ – COVID made us more attuned to this phrase and its meaning. I hope that the anti-vaping people will actually listen to science this time around, rather than cherry-pick what they want to hear.

This major piece of scientific evidence comes weeks after the European Commission’s proposal of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. That particular plan sets out steps to systematically curb vaping, through higher prices, flavour bans and outdoor bans.

Surely the Commission must see the UK report for what it is – a confirmation that they are moving in the wrong direction. Yet, next week, the Commission’s own scientific advisory body, called SCHEER (I wrote about their last draft report Tutaj), will present their final recommendations on vaping to the EU, which will inform the next steps the Commission will take in regards to proposing new laws on vaping. Will they agree with Public Health England and King’s College? Or will they decide that science doesn’t matter?

Meanwhile, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are still analysing the Commission’s Cancer Plan. It is crucial that they know about this report as well as about our vaping stories.

So let’s do something together. Let’s tell our MEPs why vaping is important and how it changed our lives for the better.

To date, the EU Commission has ignored the science on vaping in their Beating Cancer Plan. Let’s make sure the European Parliament is not following the same path with its version of the Plan.

In case you haven’t signed our petition yet, here you can give vapers a voice: