WVA’s #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign kicks off in Strasbourg
The visit coincides with the ongoing review of EU tobacco legislation, the Tobacco Products Directive.
First launched summer 2021 when the WVA unveiled a new graffiti mural outside the European Parliament at the European with a clear message: 19 million lives could be saved in Europe by endorsing vaping.
At the time, the launch Was assisted by a number of vapers across Europe and MEP Peter Liese. WVA Director Michael Landl highlighted the potential of vaping products. “Vaping has the potential to save 19 million lives in Europe. Tomorrow, the European Parliament’s Committee on Combating Cancer (BECA) is meeting to discuss proposals to reduce the harm caused by smoking. They have the opportunity to make history and save lives if they support vaping as a tool to defeat smoking. Our message to them is clear: choose science and save lives.”
The WVA has presented its proposal for a “Vaping Products Directive”
Meanwhile, at the launch of the campaign this time around, WVA representatives met with several members of the European Parliament to present their “Vaping Products Directiveshowing how vaping can be used as a tool to realize its full potential for public health. This was accompanied by an art installation called “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall”, a message that will spread to ten cities in six countries between October and November 2022.
Additionally, the campaign will coincide with the ongoing review of EU tobacco legislation, the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The WVA has already participated in the Public call for evidence from the European Commission Speak out against flavor bans and over-regulation. With this campaign, the group aims to give a voice back to the European vaping community, by sharing their experiences of quitting smoking via vaping.
WVA Director Michael Landl stressed that lives can be saved by regulate vaping sensibly. “By supporting vaping, we can defeat tobacco use and save 19 million lives through smart regulation. The EU’s call for evidence received a record 24,000 responses, showing that consumers are keen to embrace tobacco harm reduction, and vaping has proven to be one of the most succeeded to date. The EU must end the ongoing discussions on flavor bans and vaping must remain affordable and accessible. It is time for the EU to fully endorse tobacco harm reduction and make vaping a central part of it.