SHORTFILLS
Vapouround Deputy Editor Jordan Millar selects his pick of short vape-related stories and research making news from around the world .
DON ’ T PUNISH – HELP INSTEAD
Hong Kong ’ s plan to reduce smoking rates will be hampered by its vaping ban , says a leading tobacco harm advocate . Heneage Mitchell , founder of pro-nicotine group factasia . org was speaking on current affairs radio show Backchat . Since April , safer nicotine products have effectively been illegal and stricter controls on tobacco use and sales are planned . Mitchell said : “ Hong Kong has really missed an opportunity to give smokers the choices they need to successfully quit . We have to help smokers not punish them .” He said the government should embrace , not ban , THR products .
FDA REJECTS MYBLU PODS
US regulators have banned myblu products from sale , making Imperial Brands the first major tobacco company to have its vape pods rejected . The Food and Drug Administration said the applications failed to show that the potential benefits to smokers outweighed the risk to youth . The company has 30 days to challenge the ruling . The FDA is still reviewing applications for pod devices made by other large companies including Juul Labs , BAT and NJOY .
A SMOKING PENGUIN … ARE YOU BATTY ?
Warner Bros ’ critically acclaimed ‘ The Batman ’ is the latest film to face Hollywood ’ s on-screen tobacco purge , with villain The Penguin being forced to ditch his iconic smoking habit . Actor Colin Farrell , who played the crime boss , said he ‘ fought valiantly ’ for the character ’ s trademark cigar and cigarette holder . However , the studio denied Farrell ’ s request , under its commitment to ‘ reduce or eliminate the depiction of tobacco ’ in its films . To hear about vaping on the set of ‘ The Batman ’, check out our story ‘ Holy harm reduction Batman ’ later in this issue .
DON ’ T DO IT
Scotland is being urged to rethink its ‘ damaging ’ plans for new vaping regulations which would see it depart from the rules that the rest of the UK follows . The UKVIA says the proposals conflate vaping and combustible tobacco , by aligning regulations on advertising and promotion with tobacco regulations . Director General John Dunne said : “ These measures will only serve to perpetuate existing misconceptions in government , public health bodies and individuals looking to quit combustible tobacco .” Scotland is set to miss its smokefree 2034 target by 16 years .
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