E-cigarette Users Could Back to Smoking in Sweden

The announcement has certainly taken many by surprise, especially given that in 2018 Sweden reached a Smokefree status by endorsing the use of another nicotine alternative product.Discussing the planned flavour ban, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) Michael Landl, has recently said that if the measure goes into effect, the 150,000 former smokers in Sweden who are now vaping instead, could be forced to switch back to smoking. “Banning flavours could force thousands of former smokers in Sweden to take up the habit once again. Research shows vapers are more than twice as likely to quit with flavours. If they are banned, 150.000 vapers – the equivalent of almost the entire population of Uppsala – would lose their flavours and could go back to smoking. This would be a major setback in the fight against smoking and its related illnesses.”

“It is worrying that a country like Sweden, famed for its pragmatism, is taking such a heavy handed approach towards vaping. Politicians have lost their common sense, and it is vapers and smokers who will suffer”.

“In the fight against smoking, Sweden had previously shown they understood the concept of harm reduction – namely,  less dangerous alternatives to smoking need to be allowed and promoted to get smoking rates to go down. However, we were stunned to learn about the plans to completely ban vaping flavours. Data shows that banning flavours could result in up to 150.000 Swedes turning back to smoking. Politicians are about to create a public health disaster,” explained WVA Director Michael Landl.