EVER since vaping became prevalent in our society, there has been a decrease in smoking rates twice as fast as the global average.
Research shows that electronic cigarettes are 95 per cent safer than combustible tobacco products and are twice as effective as standard nicotine replacement therapies.
According to Public Health England, updated evidence also showcases that vaping is positively associated with smoking cessation. Over 50,000 smokers stopped smoking in a year with the aid of a vaping product.
Vape devices are popular among individuals who are trying to kick their smoking habit to the curb, where 27.2 per cent of people utilised a vaping product to quit smoking in 2020.
Comparatively, only 15.5 per cent of smokers used over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy and 4.4 per cent went on prescription medication that is used to treat smoking addiction.
INTERNATIONAL FINDINGS
Four countries have seen success in their attempts to mitigate the spread of smoking and shared their findings in a White Paper and a webinar hosted by the Property Rights Alliance entitled "Vaping Works - International Best Practices: United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Canada".
The white paper comprised case studies analysing the policies implemented by governments on electronic cigarettes and combustible tobacco products for smoking cessation efforts in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Canada.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom's liberal approach to vaping has resulted in a downward trend in terms of cigarette consumption.
Since 2012, the smoking rate has decreased by a quarter and e-cigarettes were widely used across the country.
Despite a barrage of anti-smoking initiatives, the smoking rate in the UK did not see any improvement during a five-year period prior to 2012. However, more vapers abruptly quit smoking after using e-cigarettes.
In the European Union, however, smoking rates declined by only one per cent between 2014 and 2020, with only two per cent of adults who vaped regularly.
New Zealand
Smoking rates in New Zealand have continued to fall despite the termination of annual tobacco price hikes, correlating to an increase in the use of vaping products.
Vaping now appears to be more popular than either roll-your-own or factory-made cigarettes as a standalone category for the first time.
The New Zealand Treasury has also slashed its original cigarette tax prediction for 2021 by 33 per cent.
France
According to Santé Publique France, over 700,000 people have quit smoking as a result of e-cigarettes.
80.3 per cent of vape-smokers, on the other hand, are estimated to have reduced their consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products by using electronic cigarettes.
The proportion of non-smoking vapers is very small, amounting to only less than 0.01 per cent of the adult population in France.
Canada
Smoking rates among 20 to 24 year-olds in Canada fell by 40 per cent between 2019 and 2020. This may be considered evidence that vaping is a departure ramp rather than an on-ramp for smokers.
The consumption of nicotine can now be largely separated from the hazards associated with combustible goods, thanks to extensive research and development.
LOCAL SCENE
According to the National Health & Morbidity Survey 2019, smoking prevalence has plateaued for more than a decade in Malaysia.
With studies showing the efficacy of other tobacco harm reduction (THR) alternatives in halting widespread smoking in other parts of the world, introducing and implementing THR programmes could be a way to make a difference in terms of smoking rates locally.
Regulating the vape industry in Malaysia could also help curb the smoking habit, impacting public health in a positive manner.
Besides that, doing so would be a good call for both businesses and consumers as introducing regulations can help develop and structure the vape industry as a whole.