Vapers protest flavour ban at Swedish Parliament

World Vapers Alliance, a global vaping advocacy group, has on Tuesday held a protest against the ban on vape flavours in front of the Swedish Parliament.

The group also delivered an open letter to the lawmakers, urging them to vote against the ban. They marched with the slogan “Flavours help smokers quit” during parliament’s session.

Earlier this year, the Swedish government introduced a bill that would prohibit all non-tobacco vape flavours in nicotine and non-nicotine products. If approved, the bill is set to enter into force on 1 January 2023.

“I benefited first hand from vaping and managed to stay smoke free for the last few years. Like most other smokers, I tried to find a way out of cigarettes – but nothing worked for me, the patches, the gums, the inhalers. Vaping – and especially combined with flavours – was my saviour. And like me there are millions around the world who are healthier and lead a better life because of vaping,” said Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance.

According to Landl, the ban on vape flavours will have disastrous consequences on public health.

“According to Yale School of Public Health, vaping flavoured e-cigarettes are associated with a 230 per cent increase in the odds of adult smoking cessation. If vape flavours were banned, more than 150.000 swedes could be pushed back to smoking, which goes against any public health authority,” he noted.