Vapouround Magazine ISSUE 29 | Page 16

N F E R H NEWS Short Fills Three pages filled with short vape-related stories and research making news from around the world. FOLLOW OUR LEAD More than 200 million smokers could switch to vaping by following the UK’s approach, according to the Consumer Choice Center. The CCC said the UK’s approach to regulation was an example that the rest of the world should follow. Managing director Fred Roeder said: “We used the UK’s progressive tobacco harm reduction policies as a reference point and estimated how many current smokers could be helped to switch by having a more permissive vaping framework. “In China 76 million people could switch. The US (6 million) and Germany (4 million) would also see huge public health benefits by emulating the UK’s approach.” EXTEND PUB SMOKING BAN CALIFORNIA TARGETS FLAVOURS The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland wants all outdoor areas in pubs to become non-smoking zones when they re-open as the lockdown eases. Professor Des Cox said there was “no risk-free level of secondhand smoke and we need to protect the general public and in particular bar staff from the well-recognised health implications of secondhand smoke.” He wrote to the Minister for Health saying: “If outdoor areas are to be used to facilitate social distancing when bars open up again, then smoking should be prohibited from all areas of all pubs when they reopen.” The California State Senate has approved a bill to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products within the state. The move would prohibit a retailer from selling or possessing any flavoured tobacco product or flavour enhancer and would apply to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and products such as chewing tobacco and snuff. All flavours and aromas beyond that of tobacco would be prohibited and violators would be subject to a fine of $250 for each occurrence. Cities and counties would be free to impose stricter penalties than those provided by the state law. The bill now moves to the California Assembly for debate. 14 VM29