The Slovenian Ministry of Health proposed to introduce a ban on all vaping flavourings except tobacco “to prevent and reduce the use of electronic cigarettes among young people”. According to the Slovenian authorities “more and more research also shows that, among adolescents who otherwise do not smoke, the use of an electronic cigarette significantly increases the likelihood that they will also start smoking regular cigarettes”.

But that is not true! Flavours are commonly used among regular vapers of all age groups and they are not a product to adolescents started in vaping. Around two thirds of adult vapers use flavours and they are essential for adult smokers trying to quit, since they can increase the odds of quitting by 230%. Moreover, there is no evidence pointing that vaping flavours incentivize youth vaping or smoking. 

A flavour ban is a public health catastrophe in the making. Research suggests that almost half of vapers would turn to the black market or back to cigarettes. A flavour ban in Slovenia will leave consumers with a selection of just three equally dreadful options: returning to smoking, the black market or buying their flavours abroad. 

For too long, lawmakers have ignored vapers’ opinions, meaning the most important voices – those of the consumer – and their lived experiences are missing and misunderstood. We know have the opportunity to make ourselves heard and to defend vaping flavours in Slovenia. You just need to enter this link and leave a comment explaining how useful flavours are for you, how they helped you to quit and how a flavour ban would affect you. You don’t even need to register!

You can also add some information or evidence from our own response to the consultation. You can find it here.

Let’s make our voices heard!