The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has launched its #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign in Warsaw, urging Polish policymakers to embrace tobacco harm reduction. Partnering with local advocacy group “Law for People,” the WVA warns that restrictive regulations like flavor bans, high taxes, and reduced nicotine levels threaten public health.
To capture the attention of major political parties, the WVA unveiled a striking “falling domino” art installation in the Polish capital. The visual metaphor highlights the devastating impact of over-regulating vaping, which advocates warn could trigger a relapse to smoking for millions of citizens.
According to WVA Director Michael Landl, more than 70,000 people die annually from tobacco-related illnesses in Poland. Landl emphasizes that a supportive regulatory environment could encourage over one million Polish smokers to transition to safer alternatives.
The campaign comes amid rising domestic concern over recent e-liquid tax increases. Sara Lament-Hamodi, coordinator of the “Law for People” campaign, criticized the Polish government for implementing these hikes without a thorough public debate or analysis of the consequences for public health.
The Warsaw demonstration is part of a broader European tour aiming to influence upcoming EU tobacco regulations. The WVA’s ongoing efforts include:
- Strasbourg Protest: A launch event outside the European Parliament warning policymakers, “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall.”
- Multi-Country Tour: Scheduled installations in the Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium to gather support.
- European Petition: A continent-wide petition demanding the EU recognize vaping as a legitimate smoking-cessation aid rather than over-regulating it.
Landl urged public institutions to listen to the consumer base, noting that 5% of the adult Polish population vapes. He highlighted that over 24,000 EU citizens have already participated in public consultations opposing vape bans, proving that public demand for harm reduction is stronger than ever.
