The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) has launched a six-month campaign to clear the air of confusion surrounding vaping.
The trade body, which represents vape manufacturers, importers, distributors and vendors, expressed concern over a “flurry of negative headlines about vaping” and that more people see vaping as just as or more harmful than smoking.
The sector has come under fire of late with a consultation on the ban of single-use vapes being proposed in Scotland, and rumours of consultations in England. The sustainability of single-use vapes have also been criticised with campaign group Material Focus research revealing that five million disposable vapes are being thrown away every week rather than being recycled.
The IBVTA campaign aims to highlight the benefits of vaping, how vaping devices are being used to help smokers quit and how vaping is crucial to the government’s ambition to make the UK smoke free by 2030.
As part of this campaign, the IBVTA has published new research today that reveals the importance of vaping to quitting smoking. Its research found that in a survey of more than 6,000 smokers and ex-smokers across the country, 37% of ex-smokers and 46% of regular smokers have tried or used a vaping device to help them quit smoking.
The IBVTA is also publishing a key facts and best practice document that highlights how the sector is addressing recent concerns raised including stopping those under 18 from accessing vapes and the responsible disposal and recycling of used vape products.
Commenting on the campaign, IBVTA chair Marcus Saxton said: “Recent negative headlines about vaping are seriously impacting people’s understanding and perceptions with a record number now believing it is as dangerous as tobacco. Unchecked, this growing confusion risks jeopardising the positive work that vaping has achieved in the last decade and will deny smokers and ex-smokers a proven and positive quit aid, risking 2 in 3 lifetime tobacco users suffering death by a smoking related cause.
“And, with government now talking up the possibility of a ban on single use devices, which are a crucial step toward quitting for many, the government’s ambition for a smoke free Britain by 2030 hangs in the balance. 27% of smokers are yet to try vaping with reasons given including concerns that are being incorrectly amplified in the media and a ban will decrease take up even more.
“The government itself has confirmed that vaping is 95% safer than smoking and the research that we are publishing today shows the critical role that vaping is playing in helping smokers quit.”
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