Vatican Vatican’t Vape
The Vatican has become a place that doesn’t welcome tobacco harm reduction as the Pope bans vaping
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by Dave Cross
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In 2017, the Pope banned the sale of tobacco cigarettes despite the fact sales had been a source of sizeable revenue for the church. Some said at the time that if the Catholic church was serious about helping smokers then this would be the ideal time to open up the first vape shop in the Vatican.
Some wags opined that future Popes be announced using vape in place of the traditional white or black smoke [link].
Actual smoking has been banned in the Vatican since 2002, when a law was passed by the state prohibiting it in the city state and all offices of the Catholic church around the world.
Last week, Bishop Fernando Vérgez, Secretary General of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, announced that vaping electronic cigarettes “are to be considered as completely equivalent to the tobacco products”.
The statement runs contrary to all of the evidence that electronic cigarettes are absolutely not the equivalent to the tobacco products. Respected opinion is that ecigs carry at least 95% less risk.
According to Crux, “vaping had become increasingly common in Vatican offices, leading to several complaints.”
With over 21 million Italians currently smoking, and many millions of Catholics around the world, such a stance places those lives at continued risk through the perpetuation of anti-science ignorance.
Related:
Is vaping better than smoking? Vatican votes no, and bans e-cigarettes, Crux - [link]
Photo Credit:
Smoke image by Vicenzo Pinto on Flickr [link]
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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