Home Politics Europe The WVA’s #BackVapingBeatSmoking Campaign Kicks Off in Strasbourg

The WVA’s #BackVapingBeatSmoking Campaign Kicks Off in Strasbourg

The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) is at it again. Following the launch of its first campaign in the Summer of 2021, it is once again touring Europe to spread the message that vaping can save millions of lives, this time kicking off in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Diane Caruana

October 25, 2022

The tour is coinciding with the ongoing review of the Europe-wide tobacco legislation, Tobacco Products Directive.

First launched in the Summer of 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 attended by a number of vapers around Europe and MEP Peter Liese. Director of the WVA Michael Landl, highlighted the potential of vaping products. “Vaping has the potential to save 19 million lives in Europe. Tomorrow, the Beating Cancer Committee in the European Parliament (BECA) meets to discuss proposals to reduce the harm caused by smoking tobacco. They have the opportunity to make history and save lives IF they back vaping as a tool to beat smoking. Our message to them is clear – choose science and save lives”.

The WVA presented its suggested “Vaping Products Directive”

Meanwhile, on kicking off the campaign this time round, WVA representatives met with several Members of the European Parliament to present their “Vaping Products Directive” showing how vaping can be used as a tool to fulfil its full potential for public health. This was accompanied by an art installation titled, “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall”, a message that will spread across ten cities within six countries between October and November 2022.

Moreover, the campaign will be coinciding with the ongoing review of the Europe-wide tobacco legislation, Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The WVA has previously participated in the EU Commission’s public call for evidence to speak out against flavour bans and excessive regulation. With this campaign the group aims to once again give the European vaping community a voice, in sharing their smoking cessation experiences via vaping.

WVA director Michael Landl, highlighted that lives can be saved by regulating vaping sensibly. “By backing vaping we can beat smoking and save 19 million lives with sensible regulation. The EU call for evidence has seen a record number of 24,000 responses, showing that consumers want to embrace tobacco harm reduction, and it happens that vaping has been proven one of the most successful so far. The EU needs to put an end to current discussions about flavour bans and vaping must be kept affordable and accessible. It is time for the EU to fully endorse tobacco harm reduction and to make vaping a centre piece of it.”