The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has written to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asking him to urgently sign the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act into law.
Both the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives have ratified the harmonized version of the act which will regulate the use, manufacture, importation, sale, distribution and promotion of vaping and heated tobacco products. It now awaits the President’s signature or veto.
“The weight of the scientific evidence shows that potentially thousands of Filipino lives can be saved by making this act the law of the land,” wrote CAPHRA, backed by its expert advisory group and member organizations throughout the Asia Pacific region.
CAPHRA told the President when enacted the legislation will provide 16 million Filipino smokers with the world’s most effective smoking cessation tool, saving the lives and enhancing the health of millions of Filipino smokers and their families, friends, and co-workers.
“Hundreds of peer-reviewed international scientific studies have found innovative smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco and offer the best options to make smokers switch or quit. The act will ensure the regulation of these products, so that they meet government standards to protect consumers and will contribute revenue, via taxation,” wrote Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA.
The letter said signing the act into law and giving Filipino smokers the option of choosing less harmful alternative nicotine products will create an enduring presidential legacy. It will prove to the world that Mr Duterte is a leader who put the health and well-being of his people, based on science, above the special interests of foreigners.
The Asia Pacific advocacy group explained that the use of non-combustible nicotine products is at the core of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) – a public health strategy designed to address the smoking problem by making available less harmful alternatives that do not produce smoke – the main source of toxic chemicals that cause cancer and chronic pulmonary heart diseases.
With Public Health England concluding that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than combustible cigarettes, “we believe that the use of less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes will save about 100,000 Filipinos who die every year from smoking-related diseases,” CAPHRA wrote.
The letter noted that once signed into law, the Philippines will join 67 countries around the world that have regulatory frameworks on vaping. Further, those countries that have legalized vaping and the use of other smoke-free products such as heated tobacco have since registered a dramatic decline in smoking prevalence.
Enclosing an extensive bibliography of scientific information, CAPHRA concluded by respectfully asking the President to urgently sign the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act into law.
Last year, CAPHRA member organization Vapers PH commissioned ACORN Marketing & Research Consultants to conduct ‘A Survey of Attitudes Among Adult Tobacco & Nicotine Users in the Philippines’. A staggering 94% of respondents agreed that the Philippine Government should enact policies to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes.
A global collaboration of THR consumer groups, sCOPe has launched a comprehensive library of online panel discussions and presentations. In November 2021, sCOPe broadcast around the clock during COP9 – the 9th Conference of Parties for the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). To access sCOPe’s online library visit https://bit.ly/319zzkx
Boasting over 14,000 testimonials, CAPHRA is calling on those who’ve quit cigarettes through smoke-free nicotine alternatives to tell their story onwww.righttovape.org
For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visithttps://apthrmedia.org
DIY e-liquid, or mix your own is the perfect way to fully control your vaping experience. You get to make your e-liquid to your exact specifications and you can even save some money.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN VAPE JUICE
Diluents – There are two main diluents used during e-liquid production. Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG). These both perform different functions and are both important when it comes to mixing your own e-liquid. PG carries the flavour and provides the throat hit, while VG is responsible for your clouds of vapour, thickness and a little sweetness.
Flavouring – This is technically optional. Some vapers don’t want to taste anything when they are vaping, they just want to replicate the sensation of smoking. But most vapers will want a flavour to their e-liquid and there are lots to choose from, not to mention the endless combinations you can create. So flavouring or flavour concentrate is highly recommended when making e-juice.
Nicotine – Again this is optional. You can make a zero-nicotine e-liquid with all of the other ingredients, minus the nicotine. But if you are adding nicotine you can completely tailor your nicotine strength.
DIY e-liquid accessories – There are some accessories you will need. Empty bottles, syringes, measuring cylinders, scales, gloves and tissue are all things you may need, depending how you are going to mix your e-liquid.
BENEFITS OF DIY E-LIQUIDS
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of DIY e-liquid.
Convenience – Like many things, mixing your own e-liquid can seem complicated at first, whereas it’s as easy as following a recipe. Once you get into the swing of things it means you can make large batches of your favourite e-liquids, meaning you only have to think about it once every few months.
Control over your vaping experience – Want thicker clouds of vapour? Feel like you need more throat hit? Want to add some menthol to your favourite fruit flavour? All of these can be controlled if you mix your own e-liquid.
Endless flavour opportunities – The flavours is one of the fun parts of vaping. Mixing your own allows you to become an expert mixologist. There are endless flavour combinations and you can easily discover your new all day vape.
Value for money – Depending on the nicotine strength of your e-liquid, you can save a lot of money compared to buying your e-liquid already prepared.
Bottle size – No more having to worry about only have a 10ml bottle. You can mix as much as you want.
DIY E-LIQUID INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
None suitable flavourings – You shouldn’t ever be using a flavouring that hasn’t been specifically designed for e-cigarettes. While ‘flavourings’ may be suitable for other things, such as cooking, it does not mean that they are suitable for inhaling. Only use specific e-liquid flavourings from a reputable source.
Ultra-high nicotine strength – Make sure you are controlling the strength of the nicotine in your DIY e-liquid. If you make your nicotine strength too high it is easy to vape too much.
Essential oils – Oils have no place in e-liquid and should never be used under any circumstances.
Water / Vodka – Back in the early days of DIY vape juice, the method of using water or vodka as a base was popular. This was to thin the e-liquid and enhance the flavour. It really isn’t needed nowadays and I wouldn’t recommend it. If you want an e-liquid with a slightly thinner base, instead of VG use Aqueous Glycerine (AG). This is a diluent with a mix of VG and distilled water. Vodka as a base just isn’t required, if you want to minimise the use of PG in your e-liquid, DIY means you can use almost all VG and you can still get a great e-liquid.
E-LIQUID CALCULATORS
There are a lot of great, reliable e-liquid calculators out there. All you need to do is plug in the numbers you want to mix to and it will show you the exact ratio of ingredients.
You need to know what flavours you are using and how many. What ratio of diluents you want to use and how strong you want your flavouring to be.
HOW TO MIX YOUR OWN E-LIQUID SAFELY
There are a few different ways to mix your own e-liquid.
Some people use measurements of volume, such as ml’s. Others will use scales and mix via weight. To mix safely, especially when nicotine is involved, it is always best to wear gloves. This is because nicotine can be taken up through your skin (think of a nicotine patch).
As mentioned above depending on how you are going to mix, you will need some accessories. If you are mixing by volume you will need syringes or measuring cylinders. If by weight you will need scales, and both methods require empty bottles. Make sure everything is prepared and in place before you are going to start mixing and make sure you have tissue handy in case of any small spills.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO MAKING E-LIQUIDS
How to mix e-liquid by volume:
Choose your e-liquid mixing bottle (e.g. 30 ml) and add the required volume of flavour concentrate(s) using a pipette or syringe.
Add the required volume of PG & VG diluent using the 10 ml syringe & blunt needle, or into a measuring cylinder.
Add the required volume of nicotine using the 10 ml syringe & blunt needle, or into a measuring cylinder.
Replace dropper & cap on e-liquid mixing bottle. Shake thoroughly.
How to mix e-liquid by weight:
Place your empty bottle on the scales and then press tare.
Add the required weight of flavourings, then press tare.
Add the required weight of diluents, then press tare.
Add the required weight of nicotine.
Add the cap to your bottle and shake thoroughly.
The debate about steeping has raged as long as e-liquid has been available. What is steeping, it is essentially leaving your e-liquid in a cool, dark place (for a few weeks) so the flavours can fully ‘mix’ together and the full flavour of the e-liquid is available.
But some vapers don’t think that steeping does anything. So, the advice here is to make sure the e-liquid is shaken well, then try it and see what you think. Most flavours will taste great as soon as they are mixed. All e-liquid is perfectly fine to vape as soon as it is mixed.
CAN YOU MAKE VAPE JUICE WITHOUT PG & VG
In short no, you can’t. PG and VG are essential components in e-liquid, as they make the liquid ‘vapeable’. What you can do when you mix your own e-liquid is control the ratio of these two diluents.
If you want an e-liquid with a strong throat hit and more intense flavour, then you want to favour PG in your mixing ratio.
If you want a thicker e-liquid, maybe for sub-ohm vaping or for thicker clouds of vapour, you want to add more VG when you are mixing.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to DIY e-liquid, but what is great is the freedom you get to completely control your vaping experience.
Congratulations on purchasing your new electronic cigarette. We hope you enjoy vaping with it. E-cigs are a fast-growing industry, and they have been increasing in popularity for years because they offer a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes. You are joining millions of others who have chosen this alternative to smoke. This booklet is meant to offer a brief introduction to your e-cigarette, how to use it, and how to maintain it. As you become more familiar with this technology, you may decide to take your customizable vaping experience to the next level by building your own mechanical MODs, rebuildable atomizers (RBAs), or rebuildable dripping atomizers (RDAs). If you do, we look forward to helping you make the right purchases if you intend to mix your own flavors, Magical Flavour has over 100 on website, as well as a recipe book that will give you some awesome ideas. Don’t forget to check it out! Well, you must be very excited, so let’s get to it. Happy vaping!
Getting Started
If you have just bought a modern electronic cigarette starter kit, it most likely comes in three parts. These are the battery, the customizer, and the mouthpiece.If you have bought an older device, you may have more
parts to deal with, which we will introduce you to shortly. Your starter kit probably looks something like this: Figure 1 – Parts of an Electronic Cigarette
1 – Wicks/coils and Atomizers
2 – Battery Charger
3 – Mouthpiece
4 – Battery
5 – Clearomizer
If your kit looks something like this, all you have to do to start vaping is:
1) Screw the battery into the charger (clockwise) and plug it in to charge it.
2) Add liquid to the customizer carefully at a 45° angle along the outside wall of the tank. Avoid getting e
the liquid inside of the air nozzle (see fig. 2 and 3).
3) Screw in or insert the mouthpiece securely.
4) Wait about one minute for the coils to absorb the liquid. Firing a dry atomizer can damage it.
5) Screw in the battery, securely.
6) If your battery is manually activated (if it has a button on it), you may need to turn it “on.”If so, click the button five times to do so.
7) Push the button of the battery five times to activate, and while holding the button down, inhale, as with a cigarette.
8) Enjoy!
Full Disassembly
To disassemble a customizer:
1) Empty the tank of all remaining liquid.
2) Hold the tank securely in one hand.
3) Unscrew (counterclockwise) the base of the customizer (the part that connects to the battery)to free it from the tank.
4) Unscrew the atomizer to remove it from the base.
5) You can now clean or replace any of these parts.
To reassemble your customizer follow these instructions in reverse. Note that most disposable customizers are not meant to be disassembled, and should not be. Replace these when necessary. We recommend using customizers with replaceable coil heads because they will save you money in the long run.
Maintenance
Atomizers/Coils and Wicks: to clean your atomizer, remove it from its mounting, blow out any liquid and set it on a paper towel to dry. To wash your coil, soak it in distilled water, propylene glycol or pure grain alcohol. Do not use rubbing alcohol.
If you notice a reduction in vapor production or the flavor of your e-liquid tastes burnt, it may be time to clean or replace your atomizer. Replacing just a wick in a MOD requires experience is a lot of work, although it is a common practice when rebuilding an RBA. For recommended for beginners, because atomizer/wick combinations are inexpensive, it is easier to replace burned-out parts. Depending on use, atomizer coils tend to can have a life span between 2-4weeks and 3 months, so you should keep a few spares on hand, just in case. Batteries: the life of your battery will depend on its capacity, how often you use it, and your recharging patterns. If your battery will no longer hold a charge, you should consider replacing it with a new one. Most batteries have a lifespan of 200 charges or about 6months. Clearomizer Tanks: to clean your tank, remove the mouthpiece and atomizer assembly, then soak it in warm distilled water, vodka, propylene glycol, or pure grain alcohol, blow out any remaining liquid, then set it on a paper towel to dry. Do not use rubbing alcohol. Ensure no liquid remains in the center tube. Tanks should be replaced if they begin to leak regularly. Cleaning your tank before switching your e-liquid flavor keeps it from mixing with residue from your last one, making each e-liquid taste better! Glossary Adapters come in two kinds, threading adaptors, which can be used to connect together e-cigarette parts of different circumferences, and sleeve adaptors, which will give your e-cigarette a sleeker look. Atomizers: Also known as heating coils or heaters, atomizers are the part of the e-cigarette that vaporizes your e-liquid. Bottom coil-style tanks and atomizers are the least likely to leak and the easiest to repair. Batteries: This is the part of the e-cigarette that supplies power to your atomizer. Battery capacity is measured in mAH (milliampere/hour). Battery Chargers are used to recharge your e-cig batteries, usually via USB cable and/or an optional wall charger. Bottles are incredibly useful to have around if you are making your own e-liquid. Clearomizers: Cartomizer technology that combines a tank and an atomizer that usually includes user-replaceable wicks and coils. Flavor is the fun part of DIY vaping. Mix your own flavors and enjoy the taste! Drip tip: Mouthpieces that are removable and allow you to place the liquid directly on the coil. Nicotine is usually available suspended in propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), or a mix of the two. It is an active ingredient in cigarettes. WARNING: Nicotine is addictive, and e-cigarettes are not recommended for use by non-smokers. PG / Propylene Glycol is a liquid commonly found in numerous food products such as food colorings, syrups, and sauces. When vaporized, PG is responsible for the“hit” on your throat when you take a puff from your e-cig. Syringes and eye droppers help you measure liquid volume when mixing your own e-liquids. Tanks: Sometimes also called cartridges, these hold your reservoir of e-liquid, and will be attached to the mouthpiece, the battery, and the atomizer.VG / Vegetable Glycerin is a liquid, found in numerous food products like soft candies, condiments, and sauces.VG is what produces the smoke-like vapor when you exhale after taking a puff from your e-cig. Wicks: Wicks draws the e-liquid from the reservoir into the atomizer. Many people refer to these as coils.
DIY E-Liquid
Making your own e-liquid, using your favorite flavors, or developing your own recipes can be a lot of fun! This is a brief guide on developing your own DIY e-liquid.
1) Choose your PG/VG ratio. Standard ratios are50/50 and 70/30. MOD users tend to prefer high-VG e-liquids.
2) Find a well-ventilated workspace. If you’re often clumsy, wear a pair of latex gloves. Work on the anon-porous surface like glass.
3) Using a syringe or eyedropper, mix your PGand VG in an empty bottle to your desired ratio. Using the same nicotine strength pre-mixed PGand VG liquids are recommended for beginners.12-18mg/ml is roughly equivalent to the nicotine from light cigarettes, while A 10 ml bottle of 24mg/ml e-liquid contains the same amount of nicotine as a carton of regular cigarettes.
4) Choose your flavor(s). These are often concentrated liquids. Beginners are recommended to use only water-soluble flavors and to avoid flavors containing diacetyl. Until you gain experience, limit the flavor contentto10% of your e-liquid solution.
5) Shake your flavor mix and let it “steep” for about a day before vaping. Note that nicotine adds a slightly bitter taste to e-liquid. Keep this in mind when developing recipes. Some e-liquids change color over time, due to oxidation. If you have any questions about the behavior of your e-liquid, please contact us on this page, and our customer service representatives will be happy to assist you.
DIY e-liquid Calculator
If you are mixing your e-liquid using an eyedropper,1ml is the equivalent of approximately 20 drops. We recommend using a graduated cylinder for more precise measurements. For a quick-and-dirty DIY e-liquid recipe, you want to use something like this.
This recipe will make 30 ml of 16mg RY4 tobacco flavored e-liquid, a very common flavor, and a very delicious one, too! Depending on the brand of flavoring you use, most e-liquids require a flavor content between 10-20% of the total volume. You can check out the online e-liquid calculator here: https://makemyvape.co.uk/pages/calculator
They say you can’t judge a book by a cover, but when you see a vape pod that looks like a tiny pastel clamshell, can you really pass it up? Novelty items are often just that, a novelty. Is the Suorin Drop a novelty vape kit, or is it functional and fun? And what about its more utilitarian cousin, the Suorin Air?
The Lowdown: Suorin Drop and Suorin Air
Despite both devices being made by Suorin, the two kits couldn’t be more different if they tried. To provide a proper examination of these two devices we pulled from numerous reviews as well as our own product catalog to ensure they’re given due treatment.
It’s not unusual for pods to be pretty sleek, but the Suorin Drop takes things to a new level by slimming things up even more and taking on the appearance of a little shell or pendant.
At 73 mm x 49 mm x 12 mm, the Drop is one of the smaller pods on the market. Available in red, blue, dark blue, and black, the Drop can be stealthy or make a statement.
Because of its small size, the Drop is great for those looking to vape on the go. It fits in practically any pants pocket and will easily fit in a clutch or purse. Despite its small size, it is worth noting that many reviewers commented on the large clouds it produces. Sorry, hopeful stealthy vapers.
Don’t be fooled by the Drop’s tiny size. It offers a nice, full throat hit that will satisfy even the most seasoned MTL vapers. With its dual drop pod system, you can even mix and match your favorite flavors to create new ones. Chocolate cereal? Go for it!
With a 300mAh battery you can expect some decent mileage out of this device before you need to recharge it. To keep the size of the Drop so small, the pods are 2ml, so don’t expect a ton of vaping before you need to refill.
While it’s not an adorable little pod, the Suorin Air is still an incredibly sleek device that offers a subtle vaping experience.
At 86 mm x 43 mm x 8 mm, the Air is super thin. Some reviewers even said it was small enough to fit in the credit card slot of a wallet. Available in black, gun-metal, gold, rose gold, and silver, the Air makes a sleeker statement than its fun, more playful cousin, the Drop.
The Air packs the same size 2 ml juice capacity, making it another short-session device. It does pack a larger 400mAh battery, so you won’t be reaching for your charger too often.
Just like the Drop, the air is a no-button device, meaning you simply fill it, switch it on, and go. It’s a great fit for new and seasoned MTL vapers, and produces virtually no cloud. If you’re looking to vape on the go and not draw a ton of attention to yourself, this is the device for you.
Which Device Should I Get?
As is the case with many of Suorin kits, both the Drop and the Air are stellar devices. Neither one is better than the other, rather each one serves a different purpose.
Both devices are automatic and have no buttons to press, so newcomers should be right at home with either device. If you’re looking for the perfect device for someone new to vaping, the Air is likely a better choice as it’s a standard tank design.
The Drop is great for those looking to experiment with flavors, thanks to its dual pod system. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad fit for newcomers, but sometimes too many choices can be a bad thing when you’re new.
For those of you concerned about a portable kit, both are crazy small and will fit in your pocket, no problem. The Air is going to be even slimmer, but don’t let that stop you from getting the drop if you’re concerned about size. The Drop is still super tiny.
Lastly, if you’re wanting to be subtle about your vaping, the Air is the way to go. It produces smaller clouds than the Drop, and it’s even smaller and subtler in its design.
No matter which device you get, you’re in for a great vaping experience that you can take with you on the go!
Teens who are less satisfied with their lives and seek out risky and exciting experiences, are the ones more likely to use multiple illicit substances regularly, including nicotine.
Published in the journal Pediatrics, the study suggests that strategies to prevent teen vaping should be different than the ones set in place to decrease smoking rates. The research team analyzed questionnaires by 2,487 high school students in Pittsburgh Public Schools, which asked questions about how often the students used e-cigarettes and/or tobacco products.
They analysed the responses in the context of whether any of the four “protective factors” were present. The protective factors examined were:
Future orientation: A person’s beliefs, hopes and goals related to the future.
Parental monitoring: Parent-child interactions and communication.
Social support: The ability to rely on friends and peers.
School connectedness: A sense of belonging and inclusion at school.
The findings indicated that positive future orientation and high levels of parental monitoring were linked to a 10% to 25% lower prevalence of e-cig use, compared to peers with lower scores in these two factors. However, no link was observed between social support or school connectedness and vaping.
Teens craving excitement are more likely to use multiple substances
Another study of high school seniors in the U.S., found that teens who crave excitement are more likely to use multiple illicit substances, including tobacco and vaping products. Researchers Kevin Tan and Douglas C. Smith, both professors of social work at the University of Illinois, found that those teens who are less satisfied with their lives and seek out risky and exciting experiences, are the ones more likely to use multiple illicit substances regularly, including nicotine. Additionally, reported the study, the participants’ attitude towards vaping also reflected how they viewed other substances.
Those who considered vaping to be relatively harmless, were more likely to smoke, drink and use other drugs. Referred to as “polysubstance users” by the researchers, these teens scored the highest in sensation seeking.
Tobacco Control 2022 Review – Unique Opportunity – Have Your Say!
As mentioned in my news article from 11th February a new review has been tabled by the UK Government in its “Levelling Up” campaign to review the current Tobacco Control situation.
Head of the Tobacco Control review is Javed Khan OBE who is the former head of the charity Barnardos.
I am so far really happy to report he is taking this review seriously and is even reaching out to people on Social Media to collect their opinions…
Below is a Twitter thread he started – if you see it make sure to reply and help shape the future tobacco control policies – you can also click on the tweet below!
CALL OUT: I want to hear your views and what we can do to support current smokers to quit, and to stop people taking up smoking. Use the hashtag #TobaccoIndependentReview. Email: [email protected] Thread 1/6
I like how he is asking all the right questions and even sharing tweets from other Harm Reduction accounts such as New Nicotine Alliance (NNAlliance), ASH and even his main man Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care).
If you are on Twitter please give him a follow at JavedKhanCEO and get involved – it can only be a good thing surely!
If you are not on Twitter his email address is shown in the first Tweet so again please let him know your thoughts – I will be!
I like this guy already – please Javed look after us Vapers, Smokers ready to quit and Ex-smokers!!
Well well well – I know we are not strictly in the EU now but it is still lovely to see that the EU Parliament has voted to adopt “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan“.
The BECA was set up in September 2020 and includes 63 MEPs, 33 Full Members and 30 Substitutes.
Included in this group is Deirdre Clune – representing the Fine Gael Party (Ireland) but sadly no UK representation – which is kind of expected really.
The vote took place on 16th February 2022 and it appears that Vaping has been highlighted as a potential stop smoking tool at last!
The report includes this…
“Electronic cigarettes could allow some smokers to progressively quit smoking”
The report also recommends risk evaluations to be performed to compare nicotine products to smoking.
Michael Landl of the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) commented the following on the news…
“Finally, an EU institution acknowledges that vaping helps smokers to quit. That is a significant step forward in our fight to save lives by reducing the harms caused by smoking. It shows the power of the voice of individual consumers coming together. Now it is the Commission’s turn to no longer ignore science and the experience of millions of consumers.”
The above quote was taken from the World Vapers Alliance Website – Press Release.
Sadly at present Flavour bans have not been ruled out – but it is a start.
So still a long way to go but great to see EU Vapers are being considered and listened to – and hopefully this will pave the way to Vaping being more accepted outside of the UK!
Cash Up For Grabs… But There Is A Catch…
Recently (January 2022) Charles A Gardner PHD who is the General Secretariat of INNCO (International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations) and all round vape advocate started a Twitter campaign.
The cash offer started at $100…
As time went by other followers added to the cash pledge which now stands at $2,652.20 for anyone who can provide proof of a single verified human death caused by nicotine vaping in the past 20 years.
CASH OFFER
Dozens of adult ex-smokers who vape nicotine pledge to you, or the charity of your choice, $2,652.20.
To win, provide proof of one verified human death ever caused by inhaling legal nicotine vapor in the past 20 years of use by (currently) 68 million of us worldwide. pic.twitter.com/aUbnD83T2t
As the pot has increased it is becoming more obviously nobody so far has been able to prove any death from vaping!
September 2021 Cochrane Review Findings
CEBM (The Centre For Evidence Based Medicine) has published an updated set of briefing documents (February 2022) titled “Can Electronic Cigarettes (EC) help people to stop Smoking and are they safe to use for this purpose?”
The findings are from the Cochrane Review in September 2021 and are also backed by Cancer Research UK, University of Oxford, NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.
There are 2 documents to download – the “Plain Language Briefing” and the “Briefing for healthcare professionals and policy makers”.
Just to give a quick summary here are the key findings from the Healthcare professional and policy makers briefing…
The plain language briefing shares the following key findings…
Also great to see is this summary of Health impacts from vaping…
Of course these documents have a lot more data including results and methods used in the review so grab a cuppa, get comfy and download them!
Scotland Against Vape Display Ban
The SGF (Scottish Grocers Federation) has called plans by the Scottish Government to ban Vaping Product Displays – “Bad News”…
The federation represents convenience store owners and the head of SGF Public Affairs Dr John Lee says…
“The evidence base presented in the consultation document simply does not justify the measures proposed.”
“It clearly sets out the benefits of using vaping products to stop smoking. That it then makes the contradictory suggestion that displays of them should be banned is somewhat bewildering.
“The trouble is that banning the in-store promotion of vaping products will inevitably stall the drive to make Scotland smoke-free by 2034.
“This is clearly bad news for Scotland’s public health.”
Polling carried out by SGF last year found that Scots think access to e-cigarettes should not be further restricted and that people get a lot of information from visiting local stores and seeing the products available to them.
In its “Vape To Quit” document – the SGF highlights…
SGF and its member stores want to help customers transition away from cigarettes towards e-cigarettes, as the first step on their journey to quitting altogether and achieving the Scottish Government’s ambition to make the nation smoke-free.
More than one-in-seven people in Scotland smoke. More than half of them say they want to quit. Half the smokers. Half the hospital admissions. Half the deaths.
Only seven per cent of Scots use Nicotine Vaping Products (NVPs), or e-cigarettes, which are recognised as the most successful cessation tool, with Public Health England estimating that people who use vaping to quit have a success rate of up to 74%. SGF can highlight their responsible use.
Free / Discounted E-cigs For Quitters – A Roundup Of What’s Available So Far…
I am loving the fact that some local stop smoking services are already offering free / discounted vape kits to assist those who want to quit smoking.
At some point everyone may have access to vapes on the NHS but in the meantime these local services are going above and beyond to help people quit.
I often see these advertised on Twitter / Online and so far have found the following…
Smokefree Norfolk with Norfolk County Council…
and a vape company have so far given out 742 vouchers for e-cigarettes and equipment worth £20. Fill in the form here to be considered for the Vape Scheme – Smokefree Norfolk Contact Us.
Emergency (A&E) departments at the following hospitals –
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital,
The Royal London Hospital,
Homerton University Hospital in London,
Leicester Royal Infirmary,
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
are offering smokers e-cigarette starter packs. This trial is funded by the Norwich Clinical Trials Unit at the University Of East Anglia (UEA).
They say…
The study will run over 30 months across five hospitals in England and Scotland
Smokers who agree to take part will be randomly assigned to receive either smoking advice during their emergency department wait, an e-cigarette starter pack and referral to local stop smoking services, or just written information about locally available stop smoking services.
As part of their 12 week programme you can receive telephone support, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or a Free E-cigarette Starter kit and 12 weeks supply of e-liquid.
A trail led by UCL (University College London) and LSBU (London South Bank University) researchers will take place to see if vaping can help homeless smokers quit smoking.
The nationwide study will be conducted in 32 centres across five UK regions: Scotland, Wales, London, the South-East of England and the East of England.
Sixteen centres will be allocated to the e-cigarette group, while another 16 will be allocated to a usual care group. The full research trial will include 480 participants, with 240 in each group and 15 from each centre.
To access the service ask at your local homelessness support centre to see if they are part of the trial.
Quit Right which serves the Tower Hamlets area is offering a 28 day supply of E-cigarettes and support to adult smokers who live, work or study in the area.
I will add any more services I find to future news pages and please let us know in the comments below if you know of a community or local service offering free / discounted kits.
Anyway after that heavy duty session of vape news – hope you all have a great week and see you here again next Friday!
The FDA Center for Tobacco Products issued a warning letter Feb. 14 to Sigelei Vape for products sold without authorization. The letter appears to be the first warning issued to a Chinese manufacturer since Sept. 9, 2021, when the CTP ended a one-year period of non-enforcement against manufacturers selling vape products without FDA authorization.
The products specifically cited in the warning letter are the Sigelei Humvee 80 (an 80-watt mod) and the Sigelei 213 Fog Coil. The FDA also notes that the rules violated by the sales of those two products may also apply to other products sold by the company.
The Sigelei letter is being discussed by some in the vaping industry as a signal that the CTP is set to crack down on Chinese companies. But that isn’t necessarily the case. Sigelei has engaged in some activities that may set them apart from most Chinese hardware manufacturers.
The letter sanctions Sigelei for offering products for sale in the United States that were part of a Sigelei Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) that was rejected by the FDA without review. Sigelei was issued a Refuse to Accept determination, which means the application lacked the most basic requirements to move into the next stage of review.
“FDA received your Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) assigned STN PM0001221 on September 7, 2020,” says the warning letter. “However, FDA issued a negative action for PMTA STN PM0001221 in the form of a Refuse to Accept determination on February 5, 2021 which covers six products. As discussed above, new tobacco products that do not have the required FDA marketing authorization order in effect, including your ENDS products covered by PMTA STN PM0001221 that resulted in a Refuse to Accept determination, are adulterated and misbranded.”
The one-year enforcement discretion given most manufacturers that submitted PMTAs required their applications be accepted for further review. Any negative decision made by the FDA after the Sept. 9, 2020 PMTA submission deadline (including Refuse to Accept) requires the manufacturer to immediately stop selling the product in question or face enforcement. Sigelei’s products should have been removed from the market as soon as the company’s PMTA was rejected on Feb. 5, 2021.
“All new tobacco products on the market without the statutorily required premarket authorization are marketed unlawfully and are subject to enforcement action at FDA’s discretion,” writes the FDA to Sigelei. “Products for which no application is pending, including, for example, those with a Marketing Denial Order and those for which no application was submitted, are among our highest enforcement priorities.”
Sigelei has continued to sell those products without a pending PMTA for more than a year, which makes the company an FDA target. But, even worse—and probably even more triggering for FDA enforcement officials—is a bold graphic on Sigelei’s website (see above) calling the Humvee 80 and the 213 Fog device “PMTA SAFE,” with the FDA logo in the background and a fat green checkmark. The graphic is like waving a red flag in the regulatory agency’s face.
The fact that the FDA finally got around to following up on one hardware manufacturer—after issuing warning letters to many non-compliant domestic e-liquid companies—doesn’t automatically bode ill for other manufacturers. Very few Chinese hardware manufacturers sell their products directly to consumers, as Sigelei does. And hopefully none of the other device manufacturers advertise their products as being “PMTA safe,” when in fact their PMTA was rejected over a year ago.
Many companies, including some Chinese hardware manufacturers, have PMTAs still awaiting review. The FDA has shown no inclination to pursue enforcement against those firms. Indeed, if the FDA wanted to send a bold message to the Chinese vape industry, it seems likely the agency would have chosen a more popular and visible brand to use as an example.
On February 20, 2022, one of the most prestigious motorsport competitions, the 4 Hours of the Asian Le Mans Series, came to a perfect end in Dubai. The #95 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with Digiflavor sponsor finished the race with an impressive result.
Notably, as a sub-brand of Geekvape, this is the second time that Digiflavor and the Aston Martin Racing team have collaborated on a racing event.
Last year, Geekvape debuted at the 68th Macau Grand Prix with a well-received pop-up launch, so what surprises did Digiflavor bring to this racing event in Dubai?
AMR Le Mans Asian edition unveiled to set the race alight
This time, Digiflavor brought us new Le Mans Asian sport car finish products, Digiflavor’s Digi-uno Pod Kit, to the stage of the highly anticipated Asian Le Mans race.
In addition to the exclusive finish with dynamic designs, this product has a bottom lamp ring that glows when vaping and an innovative sucking-setting to adjust LED effects. It also comes with an upgraded cartridge with a unique nipple-shaped drip tip. With an impressive 2 days of use, DF DU POD Kit spurts towards UNO flavour.
DigiFlavor: Jointly interpret “Breakthrough” and “Victory”
Aston Martin has always been in the game as a winner. This “Breakthrough” serves as the inspiration for Digiflavor, which is constantly refreshing consumers’ perceptions of vaping devices and the company as a whole. DigiFlavor believes that the only way to strengthen itself is to transcend its own boundaries.
Potti Lan, Digiflavor said, “We’re delighted to partner with TF sports in Asian Le Mans, a team who share the same passion for Excellence, striving for victory in our own areas and conveying the concept of Breakthrough and Progress.”
This is a ground-breaking partnership between e-cigarettes and motorsports. The launch of the AMR Le Mans Asian edition isn’t just about reviving a century-old brand image. It also brings new life and vitality to the world of racing, paving the way for a new era of vaping brands.
About Digiflavor
The team is more concerned with flavour than with the cloud, and the idea behind Digiflavor is that flavour can be digitised! Vaping is one of the most pleasant things in the world.
Digiflavor, a flavour chaser, is dedicated to delivering the most accurate and flavoured vaping experience to vapors worldwide. Some popular vape devices by Digiflavor are the Pharaoh Mini RTA, Drop Solo RDA, and ETNA BF RDA, etc.
The South African government announced yesterday it will propose a new tax on vaping products that will take effect next year. The government stated its intention to tax e-liquid last year, issuing a discussion paper in December, and accepting public comment for several weeks.
The new tax proposal was outlined yesterday by South African finance minister Enoch Godongwana as part of a package of new and increased excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and high-sugar products. The vaping tax will be included in the 2022 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, and could be changed by Parliament before being finalized. The finance minister says it will be in place by Jan. 1, 2023.
The proposed tax rate would be “at least” 2.90 rand (about 18.9 U.S. cents) per milliliter, according to Godongwana. The proposed amount would add more than $11 to the price of a 60 mL bottle of e-liquid, or almost $19 to a 100 mL bottle. It would apply to all e-liquid, with or without nicotine.
The R2.90/mL tax rate is almost exactly the figure suggested in one of the three tax options outlined in the government’s discussion paper. The rate is supposedly equivalent to 40 percent of the retail price of the most popular brand.
South Africa’s population is about 60 million. It has the second-largest economy in Africa (after Nigeria). The country currently has no specific rules on vaping products, but is working on a proposal to regulate vaping under its tobacco laws.
Smokers created vaping without any help from the tobacco industry or anti-smoking crusaders, and vapers have the right to keep innovating to help themselves. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about the challenges vaping faces from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. I recently joined the CASAA board, but my opinions aren’t necessarily CASAA’s, and vice versa. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy
Malaysia’s health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, announced the plan at the 150th session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board meeting in Geneva earlier this month. He said that the hope is that the legislation is finalized this year and that it would bring about a “generation endgame to smoking”.
“This is by making it illegal for the sale of tobacco and other smoking products to anyone born after 2005,” said Jamaluddin, “Malaysia feels that it will have a significant impact on preventing and controlling NCDs (non-communicable diseases),” he added.
The health minister stated that there will come a time when the next generation “will no longer know what a cigarette is”. Meanwhile, a local medical practitioner with experience in addiction therapy in Malaysia, recently highlighted that tobacco harm reduction (THR) approaches would help reverse the problem caused by smoking across the country.
“Tobacco harm reduction (THR) can be particularly beneficial, as it would allow smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives in their journey to quit completely,” said Dr Arifin Fi. “Official statistics indicate there is little evidence showing that existing tobacco control strategies are working, as most smokers have a low desire to quit.”
Harm reduction strategies are more effective than bans
Following his attendance at the recent virtual Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF) 2021, he insisted that Malaysia needs to look for innovative solutions to manage the local high smoking rates. “This is where tobacco harm reduction (THR) can be particularly beneficial, as it would allow smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives in their journey to quit completely,” he said.
A recent survey has indicated that 80% of Malaysians, are in favour of having the local vape industry regulated by authorities. Earlier this year, the Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) called onto the Malaysian government to set in place appropriate regulations on nicotine-containing e-liquids. He said that amongst other things, this move would have a positive effect on the local economy by creating more jobs and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
