NEWS
HOUSTON – YOU ’ VE GOT A PROBLEM
Vaping has been banned in all public spaces and workplaces in Houston , Texas , after city councillors voted to treat it exactly the same as smoking . Charlie Gagen from the American Lung Association in Texas said : “ Treating e-cigarettes as the tobacco products they are is a common sense step to addressing this public health crisis .” Council member Abbie Kamin said it would protect people from ‘ secondhand inhalation ’ even though studies have shown this is not a health risk .
AT LAST , GOOD NEWS FOR ITALIAN VAPERS
Italy has updated its e-liquid tax for the fourth time in four years … but this time in favour of vapers . In 2014 the Italian government adopted the EU ’ s highest tax rate which almost doubled the price of e-liquid overnight . Three quarters of vape businesses folded as consumers turned to the black market or switched back to smoking . The vape tax was reduced by 80 percent in 2019 , climbed up again and has now been lowered to € 0.13 per millilitre for nicotine liquids and € 0.08 for zero-nic liquids .
KIWI TEEN SMOKING AT 20 YEAR LOW
Teen smoking rates in New Zealand are at their lowest in over 20 years while few non-smoking students try vaping . An ASH survey of 26,000 Kiwi students aged 13-14 , found that just 1.3 percent smoked daily – down from two percent in 2019 . Vape advocate Nancy Loucas said : “ This survey confirms that vaping is not hooking non-smokers , as just three percent of those who vape daily have never smoked . And while many may try it , very few become regular vapers .”
ALL IN IT TOGETHER
Tobacco harm reduction advocates from around the world are teaming up to debate and brainstorm the best ways to promote safer nicotine products globally . They are taking place in five online seminars , livestreamed on the CAPHRA and sCOPe YouTube channels between now and May . Nancy Loucas , from the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates , said : “ It ’ s obvious that the war on nicotine is not going away so if we are to save millions more lives , our advocacy needs to be incredibly effective .”
THAI VAPE BAN TO STAY ?
Thailand , which had been poised to end the country ’ s national vape ban , may keep it in place after all . Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit reportedly said : “ The ban will help protect non-smokers from health hazards caused by e-cigarettes and other tobacco-related products . “ Studies show that using e-cigarettes does not help you quit smoking , therefore legalising them would leave Thailand ’ s tobacco controls lagging and put children and adolescents at risk .” The Thai government will now decide whether to keep the ban or replace it with new regulations .
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