Stories

MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently released the updated floor price of vape, cigarettes, and heated tobacco products, noting that sellers are prohibited from selling these products below the floor price. The updated floor price was contained in the BIR's Revenue Regulation (RR) 16-2024 issued on Sept. 16. "We are warning all e-marketplaces, online sellers, retail sellers, suppliers and distributors that are selling vape, cigarettes, and heated tobacco products below the floor price. This is a criminal violation penalized by imprisonment of the seller," BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.

Pharmacist Kelly Kizlyk explains new Health Canada legislation around nicotine pouches to only be sold in pharmacies. The product is intended to be a nicotine replacement. She adds that Zonnic pouches have 4 mg of nicotine in them, or two cigarettes.

A New Brunswick vape store mistakenly warned of a flavor ban effective on Sept. 1, which was not true. Amendments to the province's regulations include new licensing requirements and penalties for non-compliance. The changes aim to tackle youth vaping, with 24% of students having tried it. The Canadian Cancer Society supports the amendments to reduce youth vaping. Further efforts include raising the minimum age for purchasing vaping products to 21. Federal regulations are being urged to restrict vape flavors nationwide. Despite legal challenges, measures are being taken to combat illegal sales and reduce nicotine addiction among youth.

The European Commission recommends extending smoking bans to outdoor areas, including e-cigarettes and nicotine-free products, to reduce health risks. This proposal, part of the Beating Cancer Plan, aims to create smoke-free environments by targeting aerosols and tobacco exposure. Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides emphasizes prevention through lifestyle changes, highlighting the risks of tobacco use. The guidelines, not legally binding, cover public spaces and aim to reduce tobacco-related diseases. Implementation is expected to decrease second-hand smoke exposure and support smoking cessation efforts by 2025, contributing to a tobacco-free generation by 2040.

Join us in the latest episode of the WVA Podcast as host Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations at the WVA, sits down with Peter Beckett. Peter is the co-founder of Clearing the Air, an information resource that helps consumers of nic0t1ne products become advocates. Peter has more than a decade of experience in harm reduction and discusses how he quit, and how consumers can get involved.

Vaping is marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, but studies show it can lead to cigarette use, especially in youth. While some use vaping to quit smoking, evidence on its long-term effectiveness is weak. Nicotine replacement therapies and behavioral support remain more reliable quitting tools. Restricting vape access aims to prevent addiction and protect public health, despite claims of limiting personal freedom. Tasmania's reforms aim to supervise vape use for cessation under doctors' care, combatting potential health risks and illicit markets. These actions prioritize public health over personal choice, recognizing the dangers of unregulated vaping, unlike established tobacco products.

E-cigarettes, varenicline (Chantix), and cytisine are effective aids in quitting smoking when paired with behavioral support like therapy. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine without harmful substances, varenicline targets nicotine receptors, and cytisine is a plant-based option. Combining long-acting NRT (patches) with fast-acting NRT (gum) can further boost success rates. However, always consult a doctor before starting any medication or natural product. Behavioral support is crucial for successful cessation.

A survey by Dutch vaper group ACVODA reveals that the online sales and flavour ban in the Netherlands has led to 80% of vapers buying products from nearby countries where flavoured items are legal. The ban has not changed usage patterns, with only 2% switching to mandated tobacco flavour and about 10% returning to smoking. Vapers criticize the government for limiting access to safer alternatives and forcing them towards cigarettes. The study shows resistance to quitting among e-cigarette users, with almost half feeling the government obstructs access to harm-reducing options. Concerns are raised about the ban's unintended consequences and the need for better policy alignment with users' needs.

When I first heard the words “tobacco harm reduction,” as recently as 2022, I was a little surprised. What is that? I wasn’t turned off. I just had no idea what it consisted of. Was it collecting cigarette butts from places, or passing out those old-fashioned filter tips? No one in the prisons where I’ve spent the past three decades of my life ever says that chewing is safer than smoking, or that vaping is safer than either. So I was uninformed. I had never really thought there would be a need for tobacco harm reduction (THR). Like everyone else, I thought the only reduction of harm that could be done here is quitting, and “Quit if you want to live” is not really harm reduction.

A new study shows that college students who vape have lower cognitive function scores, with heavier use associated with greater impairment. The research raises concerns about the long-term effects of e-cigarette use on brain health. The research, conducted at two universities in Guayaquil, Ecuador, involved 405 Hispanic students aged 18-30. Participants were divided into four groups: those who only vaped, those who only smoked cigarettes, those who both vaped and smoked, and a control group of non-users. [...]