Vape Live – Day Two Highlights
Our second day of Vape Live celebrations was chock-full exciting webinars and wacky games, with special guest appearances from some of the biggest names in the industry.
Covering everything from advocacy to international regulations, our auditorium was a great place for vapers and smokers to come together and learn more about the world of harm reduction.
Here are some of our highlights:
How the RELX pledge aims to tackle some major challenges in the global vape industry.
Jonathan Ng told our Vape Live audience about the recently announced RELX Pledge, which calls on the vaping industry to ‘usher in a new era of responsibility’.
The Global Head of External Affairs highlighted the three key sections of the plan – Guardian Programme, Golden Shield and Green Shoots – which are set to protect consumers, minors and economic livelihoods.
He said:
“As a company, we identified three set of commitments based on key challenges that the industry is facing.
“We certainly hope to be able to upgrade and improve the industry.”
Jonathan Ng, RELX International
Proposed UK regulatory changes to vaping including the Tobacco Control and Smoke Free 2030 plans.
Despite the scourge of misinformation when it comes to vaping, UKVIA Director General John Dunne was optimistic about the future of the industry.
And with the UKVIA’s fifth anniversary just around the corner, John highlighted how much the world of vaping has evolved.
He said:
“There have been huge changes in our industry over the last five years.
“And what a bumpy, crazy rollercoaster of a ride it has been.
“We look forward to moving forward in a very positive way.”
John Dunne, UKVIA
John was joined by Louise Ross of the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA), who commended the UK for its ‘pioneering role’ when it comes to tobacco harm reduction.
She said:
“I’m very proud…there are a number of organisations that have taken a very open-minded view and looked at the evidence.
“And I think that’s really important.”
Louise Ross, New Nicotine Alliance
However, John warned that UK vapers can’t ‘rest on their laurels’, pointing to the huge amount of propaganda that could take hold of policymakers if left unchallenged.
John said:
“Over the last year we’ve seen an awful lot of anti-vaping rhetoric coming into the UK.
“And it’s coming in specifically around the time that regulation is being looked at.
“We can’t think that everything is okay…every single day we are under threat.”
John Dunne, UKVIA
He stressed that individual vapers are crucial in the fight against poor regulation and misinformation, saying that consumers reaching out to politicians could have a major impact on perceptions of the reduced risk alternative.
Consumers must act to help shape the future of vaping and harm reduction in the UK.
Mark Oates of We Vape discussed his journey into advocacy, sharing his earliest experience in harm reduction and how that led to him fronting a major consumer campaign.
He said:
“When I was younger, I never really thought that I wanted to be some kind of do-gooder.
“But the weird thing about this subject is that the rebels are actually the ones who are doing good.”
Mark Oates, We Vape
He also highlighted that stigmatising and ‘bullying’ smokers is not the best way to reduce tobacco-use, saying that communicating the positive evidence and research around vaping is a better way to tackle the smoking epidemic.
Chase Your Clouds Right
Two of our Vape Live volunteers went head-to-head in a classic game of higher or lower, putting knowledge and chance to the ultimate test.
The contestants had to answer some brain-busting questions to earn their way to the higher or lower board and – with a bit of skill and a lot of luck – walk away with some cool prizes.
Catching Up With Don ‘The Zen Vaper’ Thompson.
We were joined once again by Don Thompson, who give his thoughts on some of the latest industry happenings, as well as what’s been going on in the life of The Zen Vaper.
He highlighted the controversial regulatory climate in the US, stressing that the latest series of unfounded and overly stringent policies are a ‘death knell’ for the industry.
Don joined the chorus of voices urging consumers to share their stories and advocate for the life-saving alternative, encouraging vapers to change just one mind at a time.
He said:
“Please educate your fellow person…especially the ones that come out and say vaping is bad.
“Let it spark a conversation, it doesn’t have to be antagonistic, it can be gentle.
“And then these grassroots from the ground-up will counteract this propaganda machine.”
Don Thompson, The Zen Vaper
Be sure to check out the final day of Vape Live on August 13, as well as content from the past two days here.
