Eurobarometer Report Response
An urgent reassessment is needed of the EU's approach to its smoke-free goal, says the World Vapers Alliance, as the latest Eurobarometer 2024 reveals a startling failure
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by Dave Cross
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The latest Eurobarometer 2024 reveals a startling failure in the EU's approach to achieving its smoke-free target of a 5% smoking rate. At the current trend, the smoking rate will only fall below 5% by the year 2100, 70 years past the goal of 2030, according to the World Vapers Alliance.
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers Alliance, said: "By stubbornly targeting harm reduction products instead of focusing on the real issue, the EU is not just failing but actively sabotaging public health efforts. This disastrous approach must end now. Instead of fighting products such as vaping or nicotine pouches, they must become a cornerstone of future public health strategies. Otherwise, the fight against smoking will be lost."
Key Findings of the Eurobarometer 2024:
- Heated Tobacco Products: Used by 2% of Europeans.
- Vaping: 3% of Europeans are vapers.
- Nicotine Pouches: Tried by 4% of Europeans.
The EU's focus on these products is misplaced. With an average smoking rate of 24% in the EU, the priority should be on helping smokers switch to less harmful alternatives.
Sweden's Success:
- Sweden's smoking rate is three times lower than the EU average (while 26% of people use snus & 20% have tried nicotine pouches)
Additional Insights:
- Vaping products, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches are not generally appealing to non-users but are essential tools for smokers looking to quit or reduce cigarette consumption.
- Vaping is 2.5 times more effective for smoking cessation compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
The report clearly indicates that the EU's current strategy is failing. It's time to prioritise harm reduction and make effective changes to save lives.
The World Vapers’ Alliance says it “amplifies the voices of vapers worldwide and empowers them to make a difference in their communities. Our members are vapers associations as well as individual vapers from all over the world.”
Michael Landl is the director of the World Vapers’ Alliance. He is from Austria and is based in Vienna. He is an experienced policy professional and a passionate vaper. He studied at the University of St. Gallen and worked for several public policy outlets and the German Parliament.
References:
- The World Vapers’ Alliance - www.worldvapersalliance.com
- The Eurobarometer survey on Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products - https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
Photo Credit:
Image from the Eurobarometer 2024 Report
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.
