WHY THE EU MUST BACK VAPING NOW
EU policymakers need to follow in the UK ’ s footsteps and adopt vaping as a tool in the fight against cancer .
Words : Jordan Millar
Advocates hit back at Europe ’ s latest ‘ beating cancer ’ strategy , accusing it of ‘ missing the mark ’ and failing to embrace the life-saving potential of vaping . While the draft report is a step in the right direction from EU policymakers , critics stressed that there ’ s still plenty of ‘ room for improvement .’ Michael Landl , Director of the World Vapers ’ Alliance , condemned the Beating Cancer ( BECA ) report for ‘ failing to unequivocally back vaping ’ and ‘ leaving the door open ’ to bad regulations . He said : “ The number of cancer cases in Europe is alarming , which is why it needs to get its Beating Cancer plan right . “ The EU must act based on science and it ’ s clear that vaping and other harm reduction measures are key to reducing the number of smokers . “ Instead of fighting vaping , they must embrace it because , if the right policies are put in place , it could save an additional 19 million lives .” Experts have since urged the EU Parliament to look at the harm reduction successes of the UK and learn from its more progressive approach . They said that policymakers should be guided by ‘ cold , hard evidence ’, stressing that the reduced risk alternative has already helped millions of smokers successfully quit . Landl is now calling on people to ‘ raise their voices ’ and speak out in support of the lifesaving technology . He said : “ Members of the European Parliament have taken the time to listen to vapers , as well as the wealth of evidence that has been presented by experts … but it has yet to fully back vaping . “ It is vital that we continue to tell our stories and ensure our representatives understand how vaping has changed our lives for the better .”
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Instead of fighting vaping , they must embrace it because , if the right policies are put in place , it could save an
“ additional 19 million lives .
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