openPR Logo
Press release

UK Prime Minister Sunak underscores vapes as safer alternative to cigarettes

07-28-2023 09:11 AM CET | Politics, Law & Society

Press release from: Ecig24x7.com

UK Prime Minister Sunak underscores vapes as safer alternative

Advocates of public health in the country applauded UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for promoting vaping as a much safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and establishing groundbreaking programs that "encourage adults to make informed choices rather than imposing bans that leave them with limited options."

"No less than a leader of the free world has proclaimed that vaping is a better choice for those who can't quit smoking. There is so much science and research today that back up his claim. We congratulate Prime Minister Sunak for doing the right thing in protecting the British people's health," Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), said.

When challenged in parliament on how the UK's National Health Service could be relieved of mounting pressures, Sunak pointed to his administration's anti-smoking policy as the key. Central to the policy is an innovative scheme to trade one million free vapes for cigarettes in what is dubbed as the "swap to stop" program.

"There is such persuasive evidence from that program and the schemes that we have done on a smaller scale that if you can help existing adult smokers to switch away from smoking to using vapes -this is not about disposable vapes for children, which is obviously concerning … there are clearly public health benefits of acting before the bigger problems come down the line," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.

"Policy makers around the world should take a cue from Sunak's administration which considers science in its efforts to address the smoking epidemic in the UK. Rather than demonizing vaping, the UK promotes it as a proactive and innovative way to win people away from smoking and give them a better choice," Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of advocacy group Quit for Good, said.

Vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches are innovative alternatives that deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. Mounting scientific studies have concluded that burning tobacco produces around 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes smoke, more than 200 of which are harmful or potentially harmful to humans. Nicotine, though not risk-free, is not the cause of smoking related diseases.

Dr. Mata noted that this development, "also proves that the Philippines moved in the right direction when it passed Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-nicotine Products Act to regulate vapes, heated tobacco and other smoke-free products."

The UK is giving free vape starter kits, along with behavioral support, to one million smokers in a national campaign to reduce smoking. About one in five smokers in England will receive the kits.

Virgino said, "This progressive and pro-science approach offers the best opportunity to end smoking, which tobacco control espoused by the WHO and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCT) has failed to accomplish over the decades. By providing 1 million free vapes, the UK recognizes the role of tobacco harm reduction in making a difference in the lives of smokers. It hopes that the 'swap-to-stop' scheme will hasten the decline of smoking in England," she noted.

UK Prime Minister Sunak promotes vapes as safer alternative to cigarettes

Advocates of public health in the country applauded UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for promoting vaping as a much safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and establishing groundbreaking programs that "encourage adults to make informed choices rather than imposing bans that leave them with limited options."

"No less than a leader of the free world has proclaimed that vaping is a better choice for those who can't quit smoking. There is so much science and research today that back up his claim. We congratulate Prime Minister Sunak for doing the right thing in protecting the British people's health," Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), said.

When challenged in parliament on how the UK's National Health Service could be relieved of mounting pressures, Sunak pointed to his administration's anti-smoking policy as the key. Central to the policy is an innovative scheme to trade one million free vapes for cigarettes in what is dubbed as the "swap to stop" program.

"There is such persuasive evidence from that program and the schemes that we have done on a smaller scale that if you can help existing adult smokers to switch away from smoking to using vapes -this is not about disposable vapes for children, which is obviously concerning … there are clearly public health benefits of acting before the bigger problems come down the line," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.

"Policy makers around the world should take a cue from Sunak's administration which considers science in its efforts to address the smoking epidemic in the UK. Rather than demonizing vaping, the UK promotes it as a proactive and innovative way to win people away from smoking and give them a better choice," Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of advocacy group Quit for Good, said.

Vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches are innovative alternatives that deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. Mounting scientific studies have concluded that burning tobacco produces around 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes smoke, more than 200 of which are harmful or potentially harmful to humans. Nicotine, though not risk-free, is not the cause of smoking related diseases.

Dr. Mata noted that this development, "also proves that the Philippines moved in the right direction when it passed Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-nicotine Products Act to regulate vapes, heated tobacco and other smoke-free products."

The UK is giving free vape starter kits, along with behavioral support, to one million smokers in a national campaign to reduce smoking. About one in five smokers in England will receive the kits.

Clarisse Virgino
This photo shows Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates or CAPHRA. Contributed photo

Virgino said, "This progressive and pro-science approach offers the best opportunity to end smoking, which tobacco control espoused by the WHO and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCT) has failed to accomplish over the decades. By providing 1 million free vapes, the UK recognizes the role of tobacco harm reduction in making a difference in the lives of smokers. It hopes that the 'swap-to-stop' scheme will hasten the decline of smoking in England," she noted.

READ: Britain to encourage smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes

Sunak underscored the importance of his government's "swap to stop" program to improve public health, which involves promoting vaping as a much safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and is part of a strategy that encourages adults to make informed choices rather than imposing bans that leave them with limited options.

"On smoking, the 'swap to stop' program is trying something quite proactive … quite innovative," he said.

Consumer groups and public health advocates in the Philippines said the UK's decision should serve as a wake-up call to countries that continue to adhere to the World Health Organization's moralist, but ineffectual tobacco control policy that condemns smokers to a lifetime of smoking without presenting viable alternatives.

According to Virgino, the UK government's stance in favor of smoke-free alternatives by providing vapes to smokers is the biggest challenge yet to the WHO's restrictive and prohibitionist policy that sidelines over a billion smokers in the world, most of whom live in the Asia-Pacific region.

"This is what happens when you have a leader who looks at all sides to an issue. The quit-or-die approach being peddled by the WHO and embraced by one-track-minded politicians will only result in unnecessary deaths due to smoking. If there are better alternatives available, smokers should not be deprived of them. As Prime Minister Sunak said 'if you can help existing adult smokers to switch away from smoking to using vapes…there are clearly public health benefits of acting before the bigger problems come down the line'," said Virgino

The UK's Department of Health and Social Care said the program proved effective in local trials, so it is being scaled up at the national level. The plan also includes giving financial incentives of up to £400 for pregnant women who quit smoking.

Vaping proved helpful in making people quit smoking in the UK, as research shows that "smokers who use a vape every day are three times more likely to quit smoking".

The measures are also part of the UK government's plan to achieve "smoke-free" status by 2030. "Smokefree" is defined as smoking prevalence of five percent or less.

About 5.4 million people in England currently smoke, and studies show that two of three lifelong smokers will eventually die from smoking.

The program also includes a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales.

Despite the WHO's opposition to smoke-free alternatives, a 2015 WHO study group on tobacco product regulation found that "less toxic or less addictive' products 'could be a component of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco-related deaths and disease."

Information Bought to your attention by: https://ecig24.com/
Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1807583/uk-prime-minister-sunak-promotes-vapes-as-safer-alternative-to-cigarettes

Camel Street, Federickton, Canada
E3A 0A4

Ecig24x7.com provides news, reviews and updates related to the vaping industry. We educate people about this culture and provide information that's useful for them in taking a right decision.

This release was published on openPR.

Permanent link to this press release:

Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.

You can edit or delete your press release UK Prime Minister Sunak underscores vapes as safer alternative to cigarettes here

News-ID: 3148483 • Views:

More Releases for Sunak

Prominent Nuclear Fusion Market Trend for 2025: Major companies operating in the …
What combination of drivers is leading to accelerated growth in the nuclear fusion market? The nuclear fusion market is predicted to expand due to an increase in government funding for nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is produced by splitting atoms inside a reactor to heat water into steam, which powers a turbine and generates electricity. There's heightened demand in the nuclear fusion market, driven by funding for nuclear reactors by various governments
Agendapedia Releases In-Depth Analysis of Rishi Sunak's Early Election Decision
London, Uk - 11/07/2024 Agendapedia, a leading political analysis blog, has published a thought-provoking article titled "Rishi Sunak's Regrets: The Consequences of an Early Election". This insightful piece offers a detailed examination of the former UK Prime Minister's decision to call an early election and its far-reaching implications. The article, available at https://agendapedia.com/rishi-sunaks-regrets-the-consequences-of-an-early-election/, provides readers with a nuanced understanding of: 1. Sunak's motivations behind the early election call 2. The personal toll of his
Colwyn Bay Real Estate News - UK Auction House eBay is selling Affordable Reside …
Eminent Welsh Legislators , across the whole Political Spectrum , have publicly given a Cautious Welcome on the UK Prime Minister's recent decision to revoke the whole HS2 (High Speed 2) British National Rail Project - in favour of Multiple Smaller Projects ; including the Total Electrification of a Brand New (Non-HS2) Northern Powerhouse Train Line , using £1 billion (One Billion GBP Pounds Sterling) from the £100bn (One Hundred
Stop Moaning about Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy - Save UK Tax Money Cash via O …
LONDON , United Kingdom - - - UK Property News Update (April 2022) - - - Despite the Ongoing , ('UK Resident' , 'UK Non-Domicile' and 'USA Green Card') , British Tax Payment Furore concerning the (Amazingly Pretty) Indian (and 'Qasi-American') Billionairess Akshata Murthy (Murty) together with her (Extremely Handsome) Multimillionaire British (Anglo-Asian) Politician of a (Previously 'Semi-American') Husband , (as per) the Right Honourable UK Chancellor (Finance Minister) Rishi
David Attenborough voted the UK's dream boss
A brand new YouGov poll has revealed who the nation would love, and loathe, to work for. Commissioned by Vestd, the UK’s leading share scheme platform, the data records the views of over 2,000 Brits surveyed in November 2021 and is weighted to be fully representative of all UK adults. You can find the full 2022 report here. Despite offering participants a smorgasbord of celebs including Daniel Craig, Gordon Ramsay, Rishi Sunak
Construction in the United Kingdom (UK) - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025
The UK construction industry has been severely impacted due to the disruption caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the subsequent lockdown measures. Industry output declined by 13.6% in real terms in 2020, while output contracted by 2.8% year on year (YoY) in the fourth quarter of 2020, which was preceded by declines of 8.8% in Q3, 35% in Q2 and 3.4% in Q1 2020. Get free access to sample report