On September 4th, the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) took an innovative approach to underline the importance of vaping flavours during the traditional “Vorwärts Sommerfest” organised by SPD in Berlin. We brought in a cocktail mobile, offering both flavoured and unflavoured cocktails to the guests and speakers.

Unsurprisingly, attendees chose the flavoured cocktail options, while the unflavoured variety was left largely untouched. Through this demonstration, we aimed to emphasise that flavours hold significance not just in vapes but in all aspects of our lives, including our drinks.

Throughout the evening, the WVA stand became a hotspot for interactions. We were visited by several high-profile politicians: ​​Saskia Esken (SPD Party Chairperson), Kevin Kühnert (General Secretary of the SPD), Verena Hubertz (Deputy Chair of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag), and Karamba Diaby (Member of the Executive Committee of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag) joined us among many other. These conversations were both insightful and essential for our cause.

It’s worth noting that in July 2023, the German parliament expanded the Tobacco Products Act. This revision now mandates warning labels on heated tobacco pods and includes a flavour ban on these products. Fortunately, e-cigarettes remain unaffected by this ban.

While this is kind of good news for vapers in Germany, it’s vital to remember that the battle isn’t over. Our “Flavours Matter” campaign is an ongoing effort to educate policymakers on flavours’ pivotal role in the vaping experience.

The adverse wave against vape flavours is not restricted to Germany. Countries like Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Hungary have already banned flavours. While other EU nations are actively engaged in policy discussions about potentially adopting similar measures, the impending update to the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive casts an additional shadow over these developments. Regrettably, the threat of flavour bans remains a pressing concern.

It’s important to understand the potential ramifications of such bans.  More than two-thirds of adult vapers use non-tobacco flavours, and those using flavours are 230% more likely to quit smoking permanently.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial for consumers to make their voices heard. Together, we can communicate the value and importance of flavours, not just for the vaping community but for the bigger goal of aiding smokers in their journey to quit.