FEATURE
Doctors’ orders
VApril – The world’s largest vaping awareness and
educational campaign was once again celebrated
across the UK this April
By Lucy MacKinnon
Did you know, after successfully going 28
days without smoking a cigarette you are
five-times more likely to give it up for good?
VApril was once again fronted by Britain’s favourite
TV doctor, Dr Christian Jessen, to encourage the
UK’s seven million smokers to make the switch.
Organised by the UK Vaping Industry Association
(UKVIA), the month-long initiative focused on
creating links between public health authorities,
local councils and vape shops and smokers. Houses of Parliament because I know how helpful
vaping can be for those who want to switch.”
Commenting on the number of smokers who
haven’t yet tried vaping, Dr Jessen said: “This is
why I am supporting VApril, the national vaping
awareness month which aims to change this by
encouraging more smokers to consider making
that switch to a far less harmful alternative.”
Members of the public got involved using
the hashtag #SpeakUpVaping, posting short
confession-style videos explaining why they made
the switch, how it has impacted on their lives, and
what advice they would give to others who want
to do the same. The stats
Ian Paisley MP, publicly announced his admiration
for the industry in the House of Commons after
vaping helped 1.5 million British vapers quit
smoking for good, saying that VApril is, “Solving
problems that previous government campaigns
actually failed to solve, and we should actually be
applauding that.”
Mark Pawsey MP, who heads up the all-party
parliamentary group on e-cigarettes and vaping,
showed his support by releasing a video saying,
“I am very pleased to speak up for vaping in the
62 | VM23
- 20,000 smokers are quitting every year, yet 40
percent of smokers have not tried vaping as a stop
smoking tool.
- An average vaper spends half as much as a
smoker every month, but it also helps the NHS
who spend £2.6 billion annually on smoking-
related illness costs.
- After successfully going 28 days without smoking
a cigarette, you are five-times more likely to give it
up for good.