The fight for tobacco harm reduction (THR) continues—and this week, we’ve seen both concerning policy moves and promising progress from around the world.

In a disappointing but not entirely surprising development, the European Commission has officially stated that new nicotine products carry health risks “comparable to smoking.” This was confirmed in a written response by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to Members of the European Parliament.

This claim disregards growing scientific evidence showing that alternatives like vaping are significantly less harmful than smoking. The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) responded immediately, challenging the Commission’s position and calling for evidence-based policymaking that puts public health first. 

But it’s not all bad news.

Barbados has recorded the lowest smoking rate in the Caribbean—just 6.4% of adults smoke. This is a strong sign of progress and an opportunity for the country to go even further by embracing harm reduction strategies. In our recent op-ed in Barbados Today, we explored what steps Barbados could take to become a smoke-free leader in the region.

We’re also back with a brand-new episode of the WVA Podcast. This week, Liza Katsiashvili sat down with Tim Andrews, Director of Consumer Issues at the Tholos Foundation, to discuss his new platform: Prohibition Does Not Work. Their conversation dives into global case studies and why prohibitionist approaches continue to fail—not only for THR, but for public health in general. 

Even in the quieter summer months, our work doesn’t stop. We’re staying active, challenging misinformation, and pushing forward for the rights of vapers and smarter nicotine regulation.

More to come next week. Until then—vape on!