VApril Is Here!
The largest campaign worldwide aimed at helping smokers quit through switching to vaping has launched in the UK for its fourth year
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by Dave Cross
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VApril 2021(1) launched on 1st April and heralds the start of a month-long education and support campaign. Due to the Covid pandemic, this year will be largely digitally based for the second year.
Vape businesses up and down the country, together with vaping trade associations around the world are getting behind the special month. Plus, of course, brick and mortar vape stores will be joining in when they are allowed to open up again on 12th April.
Smokers are able to check out the Switch on to Vaping Plan(2), to help them make a successful switch to vape products and in doing so break their smoking habits, which many will have had for many years. They can also have their questions answered by an online expert panel.
Planet of the Vapes forum(3) members are being encouraged to share this information with their smoking friends. Smokers can be assured of a warm welcome when joining one of the largest online groups where people are always willing to share their experiences and successes from the last ten years.
VApril kicked off with a special online Zoom debate featuring John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, Mark Pawsey MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping, Patricia Kovacevic, Global Legal and Regulatory Strategist at Andina Gold Corp and Clive Bates Director of Counterfactual Consulting and former Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Planet of the Vapes News will be reporting on this later in the week.
John Dunne said: “Vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking according to Public Health England (PHE). Therefore, it is not surprising that in its annual vaping review this year, PHE reinforced vaping’s hugely effective role in smoking-cessation. In every region of the country, quit rates among adult smokers were found to be higher with the use of vaping than other products, ranging from 49% success in the South West to 78% in Yorkshire and the Humber. In its review PHE also pointed to the fact that NRT use among long-term former smokers is declining, while the use of vaping products increases.
“With the disruption of the last year, there were reports that there was a smoking comeback. We are determined to get things back on track and giving smokers a real choice, starting with VApril 2021 as vape retail stores begin to reopen. If you’re a smoker and looking to quit visit our website or visit one of the participating retailers during the month.”
According to research by One Poll, 72% of smokers were aware of VApril and said the campaign had influenced their decision to switch to vaping.
Long-term vaper Chas Barr said: “I began vaping fully around six years ago. I had previously tried different nicotine substitutes without success. When e-cigarettes came on to the market, I found that vaping was the most effective for me and easy to adapt to. I've helped several friends and family members also switch to vaping. It really is very easy. I would recommend that smokers use the opportunity of VApril and find out what they need to make the switch from smoking.”
Commenting on vaping, former Secretary of State for Wales David Jones MP added: “E-cigarettes are a very important tool in supporting adult smokers to quit. Communicating the health benefits of less harmful alternatives is essential; and consumer campaigns, such as VApril, can help hugely to achieve Smokefree 2030 and the Government’s commitment to levelling up.”
Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping, Mary Glindon MP has spoken extensively about tobacco harm reduction in parliament recently. She stated: “The UKVIA’s VApril campaign to encourage adult smokers to switch on to e-cigarettes is an excellent example of efforts taken by the industry to support ambitions for a Smokefree society. Adult smokers in the UK should seriously consider trying e-cigarettes, and there is no better time to do so than during VApril. As non-essential retail resumes on April 12th, vape retailers are well equipped to support smokers, offering expert advice to ensure a successful quit attempt.”
References:
- VApril - http://www.vapril.org/
- Switch to vaping plan - http://www.vapril.org/switch-on-to-vaping/
- Planet of the Vapes vaping forum – https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/forums/
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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