“demonstrate a positive relationship
between the use of e-cigarettes and
smoking cessation.”
WITHIN THE PAPER ITSELF, THE AUTHORS PROVE ADEPT AT CUTTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER AND
CATEGORISING THEIR ANALYSIS IN CLEAR, ACCESSIBLE WAYS. HERE ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS:
REGULATION IS GOOD WITH EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT
The authors assert the importance of the “regulation of e-cigarettes [being] underpinned by a robust
evidence base” and that this evidence base must contain two essential features. Firstly an accurate
“analysis of the impact of e-cigarette use on smoking behaviours” and secondly, an “assessment of
the health impact of e-cigarette use.”
In shallow anti-vaping think-pieces, e-cigarettes inevitably receive charges of increasing the chances
of children or teenagers smoking, of causing harm equivalent to cigarettes and even being worse.
Current studies, as previously chronicled in Vapouround, refute these claims. But a bad statistic or
nasty rumour can be hard to quash. A regulatory approach backed by robust evidence and instigated
because the data demands it would be a welcome change from regulations proposed merely for the
sake of placating fears built on inaccurate stories.
CURRENT RESEARCH DOES NOT POINT TO OVERT HARM IN E-CIGARETTES
The BMA’s findings are in line with other studies Vapouround have previously
reported on, including the claim that there is no solid reason to view second-hand
vapour as the damaging menace they have been made out to be. With vaping proving
overwhelmingly safer than smoking to the user, the same can be said of the bystander:
“Current evidence indicates that exposure to e-cigarette vapour does not pose specific health risks
– unlike exposure to second hand smoke – and that their widespread use in public places has not
had unintended consequences on re-normalising smoking or on compliance with smoke-free laws.
It would therefore be reasonable to support a softer regulatory approach than exists for smoking in
public.”
Just as importantly, the BMA also point out that this current data indicates that e-cigarette use is
not “undermining compliance with smoke-free legislation.” As they are neither harming users nor
bystanders, and operating within the limits of existing smoke-free legislation, regulatory expansion
must be reconsidered in light of such findings.
E-cigarettes have undoubtable potential for harm reduction
In closing, the BMA reaffirmed its ambition of achieving a tobacco-free society, one enjoying the
absence of tobacco-related diseases, ending with a firm endorsement:
“Given that e-cigarettes are now the most popular device used in attempts to quit smoking, and that
many people have used them to successfully quit tobacco use, they have significant potential to
support this ambition, and help reduce tobacco-related harm.”
New research from respected, credible sources is always welcome in an environment still building
up the main body of its data. Vape companies and their allies hope to see more in the near future, so
that smokers can access safe cessation tools without obstacles.
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