Issue 31

C O M I N G S O O N

LETTER FROM THE

It’s hard to believe that this is the last edition of the year – a quite horrible year like none I have ever experienced in my lifetime and one which I hope never to experience again. At least we have managed to end 2020 on a high with an amazingly successful VOXPO Vape Live USA virtual expo which has now expanded into 135 countries after just two shows.

VOXPO has met and exceeded every one of my expectations tenfold. From our selection of guest speakers to a host of international exhibitors, the event was a true representation of the vaping community’s strength. And, for the first time ever we held the Vapouround Awards in the virtual setting of our VOXPO platform and we had record numbers of entrants and votes cast for the amazing array of finalists. Huge thanks to everyone who worked so hard on making this event so successful and congratulations to all our well-deserved winners.

Despite the pitfalls that have plagued the vaping industry this year, I’m thrilled to see brands across the sector pushing through and finding success. Thankfully as I write this, we are coming to the end of a second nationwide lockdown and finally vape shops are able to reopen again. I truly hope that if we enter into a third lockdown that vape shops will be deemed to be essential shops so that they can remain open.

If the last year has shown me anything, it’s the resilience and adaptability of the vaping industry in the face of adversity. Here’s hoping this is goodbye to the ‘new normal’ and we can finally return to simpler, COVID-free times.

I am sure the international vape industry will face new challenges in 2021 and beyond but we will rise to those challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Finally I want to thank all our advertisers, friends, supporters and colleagues for their continued support over the year.

I look forward to seeing what the New Year will bring and I sincerely hope that 2021 will mean that I can once again resume the face-to-face meetings we have all missed this year.

Short Fills

Three pages filled with short vape-related stories and research making news from around the world.

LOW DOWN ON VAPING

Smoking rates in the Middle East are among the highest in the world, with only a tiny fraction of people using alternatives such as e-cigarettes. Researchers at Euromonitor International found that only 1.8 percent of smokers in the region took up alternatives to conventional cigarettes this year. This compares with the USA (28 percent), Western Europe (16 percent), Eastern Europe (13 percent) and Asia Pacific nations (four percent). David Janazzo, from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, said: “In several countries in this region, the tobacco industry is owned fully or in part by the local government, creating financial incentives to continue cigarette sales.”

HELPING HAND

Hardware giant VAPORESSO has launched a new charity initiative to support low-income Indonesian families affected by the pandemic. The brand is donating Rp10,000 for each XROS pod device sold in local stores. The fund will support the purchase of food and other necessities as part of the VAPORESSO CARE pandemic support programme, which has helped over 12,000 families so far. A spokesperson said: “The money raised from the charity proceeds will go toward buying rice and foods that we donate to people in need.”

BATTERY GUIDE

The IBVTA has produced the first comprehensive guide to battery stewardship for the UK vaping sector. It will assist any size vape business, producer or vendor, with compliance for supply to the UK market of vaping devices containing integrated batteries and portable batteries for use in vaping devices. IBVTA Chief Executive, Gillian Golden said: “This guidance is unique in the vaping sector as it is the first ever guide designed to assist all businesses in getting the best from their supply chain, wherever they sit within it.’’

WE CAN BE-LEAF IT

Cigarette sales in Nova Scotia have risen by almost a third since favoured e-liquids were banned in 2019, according to a recent study. The study commissioned by the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association revealed a 29 percent increase in sales since the Canadian province banned the products in April 2019. The ban was introduced in response to the EVALI outbreak. However, there were no reported cases of the condition in Nova Scotia and no deaths in Canada.

FOLLOW THE SCIENCE

Vape regulations should be based on science and not ideology, a Philippines medical expert has said. Quit For Good president Dr Lorenzo Mata Jr. was speaking after it was revealed that the country received funding from US-based anti-tobacco groups and the Bloomberg Initiative. He said that his group had participated in a public consultation on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products but were ‘treated to a farcical consultation, a mere tick-the-box exercise for the sake of simply holding one.’ Mata argued that nicotine products should be regulated according to risk and not all treated like deadly, combustible tobacco.

EURO QUIT SUCCESS

More than 80 percent of Europeans who switched to vaping completely stopped smoking altogether, according to a survey by the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA). The survey also revealed the importance of nontobacco flavours for smokers successfully switching, with 40 percent vaping fruit and 25 percent vaping other sweets. IEVA president, Dustin Dahlmann, said: “Our survey confirms previous research that e-cigarette flavors are crucial for adult smokers. A flavour ban must be avoided at all costs, because it would lead many vapers to buy unregulated products on the black market or to start smoking again.”

SNOWPLUS LAUNCHES IN UK

Global vape brand SnowPlus has launched in the UK with two core product ranges, SnowPlus Pro and SnowPlus Lite. Already operating in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, SnowPlus is now launching into the UK and Canada. Martin Miller, General Manager SnowPlus UK and Ireland, said: “We look forward to bringing SnowPlus to the UK. We are ready to win over existing vaping customers and convert smokers to switching to a less harmful smoking alternative.” SnowPlus founder and CEO Wang Sa said: “We’re on a mission to create the best experience possible and it is incredibly exciting to be launching in the UK.”

CONSTITUTIONALLY CORRECT

A federal appeals court has upheld the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, rejecting challenges from the e-cigarette industry claiming the agency had violated the Constitution. A unanimous panel of the D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the regulation did not run afoul of the Constitution’s Appointments Clause because the FDA official who promulgated it was not appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

ALL STOP

More than 80 percent of smokers who switched to e-cigarettes have completely stopped smoking while 65 percent of vapers in Europe use fruit or sweet liquids. These are two important results of a survey carried out by the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) in which more than 3,300 European e-cigarette users took part. Flavour variety seems to be one of the most important reasons for vapers to use e-cigarettes, with only 20 percent of vapers saying they would switch to tobacco e-liquids if other flavours were banned. IEVA President Dustin Dahlmann said: “Our survey confirms previous research that e-cigarette flavours are crucial for adult smokers. A flavour ban must be avoided at all costs.”

NEW VAPE TAX

The Anchorage Assembly has approved a statute that will subject e-cigarettes and vaping devices to the same tax rate as tobacco products. From March 1 next year any e-cigarettes, e-liquids and device accessories will be taxed at 55 percent of the total wholesale cost. Local vape shop owners criticised the move, designed to combat teen vaping, as potentially damaging for the recovery of adult smokers. Shaun D’Sylva of Fatboy Vapors said: “Imposing this tax on something that is helping people get away from combustible cigarettes…seems a little problematic.”

PMTA BACKLOG

The FDA is still working through thousands of Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) that were submitted in September. The regulator has received applications from brands all over the world, some of which have submitted hundreds of products for assessment. The FDA said that it remains committed to releasing a list of the approved tobacco products to the public which will help retailers know which ones can be sold legally on the US market. Center for Tobacco Products Director, Mitch Zeller, said that assessing the applications is an ‘extremely labour-intensive manual exercise of unpacking every single application’.

ON THE DOUBLE

South Korea will double its ‘health promotion tax’ on nicotine e-liquids on January 1 from 35 pence to 70 pence per millilitre. The country’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said the revisions were intended to achieve a fairer taxation on varying types of tobacco products. Currently, the tax rate for e-cigarettes is only 43 percent of that for conventional cigarettes. The South Korean government discourages vaping, claiming that e-cigarettes are responsible for cases of lung injury around the world.

COVID’S ‘UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY’

The coronavirus pandemic is an ideal time to encourage smokers to quit, according to Simone Pettigrew, Professorial fellow of George Institute for Global Health. Writing in the Conversation, she said: “COVID-19 offers a unique opportunity for governments and health agencies to help smokers quit and stay off smoking for good.” Her comments followed a survey of 1,204 adult smokers in the UK and Australia which showed that the proportion of smokers who said they intended to quit jumped from 10 percent before COVID-19 to 29 percent at the height of the pandemic.

JOBS BOOST

IVG parent company Acme Vape Ltd is to invest £5 million in new 80,000sq ft headquarters to accommodate 300 employees, including 150 new staff. The development will feature high quality meeting and networking areas, upgraded automation facilities, training facilities and sales and marketing offices. CEO Ahsan Bawa said: “We continue to see growing demand as consumers switch from smoking to vaping and we are gearing up to provide high quality brands for consumers as well as education and expertise to our trade partners.”

TOBACCO-FREE IRELAND BY 2025

Ireland could be tobacco-free by 2025 according to public health minister Frank Feighan. The minister said he thought “it is possible” to reach that target following a review of the Tobacco Free Ireland Annual Report – a national tobacco control action plan - which revealed a steady decline in smoking prevalence over the last five years. He said: “Our rates have dropped from 23 percent to 17 percent, which was 165,000 fewer smokers. It is my hope now that smokers will try to quit as soon as possible.”

LITTLE DO THEY KNOW

survey

Words: Patrick Griffin

Experts fear that huge numbers of French smokers may be discouraged from quitting because of dangerously false beliefs about effective alternatives such as vaping.

A survey carried out for vaping advocacy group Sovape showed that most French people have false perceptions of the risks of vaping and nicotine.

The results were so bad that the pro-vape group said: “Sovape, public health experts, addiction experts and smoking cessation experts are sounding the alarm. The French population’s state of misinformation about vaping and nicotine is very worrisome.

“This perception of risk, which is contrary to reality, is a brake on people using vaping and nicotine substitution to stop smoking.”

According to the study, only eight percent of French people knew that vaping was much less risky than smoking, 58 percent believed that vaping was as much or more risky as smoking while 18 percent simply didn’t know.

Overall, 75 percent of French people were mistaken about the risks of vaping compared to smoking.

Smoking cessation expert Jacques Le Houezes said: “The misinformation about vaping has undoubtedly reinforced fears for smokers and non-smokers alike. It is essential that correct and

honest information be given to the population concerning nicotine and tobacco harm reduction in general.”

Professor Gérard Dubois, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, said of the findings: “This is the disastrous result of criminal misinformation regarding the leading preventable cause of death in the world.

“There is no doubt that if smokers, who for the most part want to stop smoking, knew exactly what is what, the effects would be even

“Worrysome”

reveals that 75% of French people are unaware that vaping is less harmful than smoking

more spectacular. These are therefore avoidable deaths that are happening and this is why misinformation is criminal in this area.”

Jean-Pierre Couteron, spokesperson for the Addiction Federation, said: “At a time when so many of our fellow citizens are weakened by the economic and social crisis which is added to the COVID health crisis, not giving them the right information about the help that vaping can bring is a serious mistake - in terms of public health as much as in terms of harm reduction.”

Nearly 75,000 people die from smoking-related diseases in France every year and Sovape said that offering appropriate information to smokers to give them a chance to quit was “an ethical necessity.”

The survey also showed that the number of people who think that nicotine causes cancer remains stubbornly high – 78 percent of those asked wrongly said that nicotine was a carcinogen (down just two percent from the previous year.)

Professor Jean-François Etter, from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, said a long-term effort would be needed to correct the misperceptions.

He said: “Because of these misperceptions, fewer smokers are giving up cigarettes and switching to lower-risk products. Correcting these misperceptions will require a long-term effort, which will include informing the public and professionals (health professionals,

journalists, policy makers, etc.), training health professionals in particular, and allocating the necessary resources.”

Professor Antoine Flahaut, Director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, said it was the primary responsibility of governments to recognise the harm reduction potential associated with safer nicotine products and to promote them effectively to cigarette smokers.

She said: “That 75 percent of French people still believe that e-cigarettes are no less harmful than cigarettes is a level of misinformation that is highly detrimental to the health of smokers.

“This trend [must be] quickly reversed so that the vast majority of French people understand that the consumption of safer nicotine products is infinitely less dangerous to health than smoked tobacco.”

“It is essential that correct and honest information be given to the population concerning nicotine and tobacco harm reduction in general.”

This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.

VICTORY FOR VAPING (AND COMMON SENSE)

EU Commission Opposes Proposed Danish Flavour Ban

Words: Patrick Griffin

Plans by Denmark to ban flavours of both nicotine and non-nicotine containing e-liquids have fallen foul of the European Commission.

Under the proposed legislation, only tobacco and menthol vape flavours would be allowed as part of a raft of new measures proposed by the Danes.

Denmark said the new measures were needed as part of “a wide range of initiatives intended to stop and prevent smoking and nicotine dependency among children and young people.”

However the Commission has stepped in and ordered that the proposed bill be amended on the grounds that it contravenes the TPD.

The European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) were also highly critical of the Danish plans saying it would “deprive Denmark’s 786,000 adult smokers of a way out of deadly combustible cigarettes and will also make it very difficult for the 250,000 vapers in Denmark to remain smoke-free.”

Denmark not only wants to ban flavours but intends to impose stricter rules on advertising and sponsorship of vape products. It also wants e-cigarettes hidden from view and the introduction of standardised packaging to

make them look less appealing to shoppers.

The New Nicotine Alliance said: “The idea that banning flavoured e-liquid would have any benefits on health is based on nothing but prejudice and conjecture.

“There is no sense whatsoever in prohibiting products which distance adults from smoking by offering more enjoyable flavours. Why on Earth does Denmark think that restricting flavours to tobacco and menthol only can possibly help people to switch away from smoking? This is madness.”

UKVIA Director General John Dunne said he was “delighted” that the EU Commission opposed the flavour ban, describing the move as “a victory both for vaping and common sense.”

He said: “According to the Danish Vapers Association the proposed ban would have affected some 85-90 percent of adult vapers in Denmark with the potential of driving up to 70,000 Danish ex-smokers back to cigarettes.

It also said that the move would have also forced 90 percent of vape shops to close which would have been an economic travesty.

“Flavours play a hugely important role in encouraging smokers to switch to vaping and crucially provide

choices for ex-smokers to ensure they do not relapse. “At the UKVIA we have agreed guidelines for our members to ensure a responsible approach by the industry to vape flavours. These state that they must not use flavour names or descriptors that are particularly appealing to youths and are associated with youth culture, including popular language or expressions, or names which are reminiscent of confectionary disproportionally appealing to children.”

The UK’s National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training said: “Making vaping more appealing to adult smokers is key to reducing the harms from smoking traditional combustible tobacco.

“In the UK we have no evidence of young people being tempted to vape if they hadn’t already smoked, but adults have made vaping the most successful way of stopping smoking. Please do not deny Danish people a way of switching to vaping and staying switched. They are doing it because they don’t want to die of a smokingrelated disease.”

An article titled “The not so great Danes are barking up the wrong tree,” posted on the Totally Wicked website Vaped, described the proposed flavour ban, plain

packaging requirement and display ban as “particularly harsh and counter-productive.”

It went on: “If this bill was implemented, it would undoubtedly make vaping less appealing to Danish people, potentially easing vapers who have made the switch away from smoking back to their deadly habit. It would also certainly dissuade current smokers from making the switch over to much less harmful vaping products.”

“The idea that banning flavoured e-liquid would have any benefits on health is based on nothing but prejudice and conjecture.

Re:new HAND & NAIL CREAM

Re:scue BODY BUTTER

US VOTERS APPROVE TWO NEW STATE TAXES

Measures may hit low income minority groups hardest, critics say

Words:

Gordon Stribling

The US elections saw voters in two US states approve new taxes brought in to reduce youth use of vape products.

In Colorado, Proposition EE will see vape products taxed at 30 percent of the manufacturer’s list price (MLP) from 2021, gradually increasing to 62 percent by July 2027.

Meanwhile, the tax on a packet of cigarettes will increase from 84 cents to $2.64 by 2027.

More than 68 percent of votes were in favour of the measure.

The money generated by the tax increase will support public health initiatives, including vaping awareness and cessation programs.

Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, said the measure would help to decrease youth vaping.

She said: “We see that every day in our schools with our students and the negative impacts that vaping has on our students.”

However A Bad Deal For Colorado, who opposed the measure, said it was ‘disappointed’ with the outcome.

our economy recovers from COVID-19, now is not the time to raise taxes on any Colorado voter.”

The group spokesperson said in a press release: “As our economy recovers from COVID-19, now is not the time to raise taxes on any Colorado voter.”

Meanwhile, voters in Oregon approved Measure 108, with 66 percent supporting and 33 percent opposed.

The new e-cigarette tax will see vape products taxed at 65 percent, plus a $2-per-pack increase on cigarettes.

The state estimates that the new taxes will generate around $160 million a year.

The measure will see 90 percent going to Oregon Health Authority to support medical costs and the rest to support smoking cessation

“As

efforts among minority groups with high levels of tobacco use.

Elisabeth Shepard, campaign manager for the Yes on 108 campaign, said: “Tonight’s victory sends a very strong message that once again Oregonians show overwhelmingly the value of health and health care access for all of our neighbours.

“And we will show up in force to protect them while also reducing one of the biggest threats to our kids’ health.”

The Taxpayer’s Association of Oregon urged voters to reject the measure, saying that it would disproportionately affect those on lower incomes who are more likely to use nicotine and tobacco products.

The group also argued that the measure would unfairly hit small retailers who sold tobacco products such as e-cigarettes.

Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden is still to name his candidates to lead roles key to vape regulation in the US.

Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is a frontrunner for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) position and is

considered to be a ‘more moderate’ choice for the industry.

Vivek Murthy is another leading candidate. In 2016, the former surgeon general authored the controversial report ‘E-cigarette use among youth and young adults,’ and could prove a more combative choice.

Biden himself has previously called for a federal flavour ban and called for greater regulation to curtail ‘tobacco’ use altogether.

US youth vaping has actually declined significantly over the past year, according to the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).

The annual survey tracks youth vaping and other tobacco use among middle and high school students across the country.

Current use (at least once in the past 30 days) among high school students dropped by almost a third, from 27.5 percent in 2019 to 19.6 percent in 2020.

The survey also showed that current use among middle school students more than halved over the same period.

EU SCIENTISTS ‘IGNORED CRUCIAL EVIDENCE’ ABOUT E-CIGARETTES

Words: Patrick Griffin

An official European Union paper on e-cigarettes has been criticised for ignoring crucial evidence amid fears that it could lead to millions of current vapers switching back to smoking.

The EU Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) has recently released its preliminary opinion on e-cigarettes.

Running to 117 pages, the report set out to “review the most recent scientific and technical information on electronic cigarettes.”

It concluded that there was strong evidence that vaping caused “risks of long-term systemic effects on the cardiovascular system.”

The Committee also said: “The overall weight of evidence for risks of poisoning and injuries due to burns and explosion, is strong. However, the incidence is low.”

The World Vapers’ Alliance said the conclusions “may contribute to the more than 15 million Europeans who currently vape returning to smoking.”

WVA Director Michael Landl said: “The preliminary opinion paper overlooks credible facts. The report ignores a large swathe of scientific evidence supporting vaping and the clear evidence from millions of European citizens who have quit thanks to e-cigarettes.

"The opinion does nothing more than vilify vapers and e-cigarettes, while basing much of its evidence on what they admit is ‘weak to moderate evidence.’

"Acting upon this report to restrict or ban e-cigarettes will do nothing but cost lives.

“If the EU slams the brakes on the incredible advances made in public health by the prevalence of vaping, we will see a return to smoking for millions around the EU and the death toll associated with smoking will rise.

“We call on policymakers to take into account the harm reduction benefits of vaping.”

Meanwhile the World Vapers’ Alliance has highlighted the fact that the UK and France had included the use of e-cigarettes in their annual stop smoking campaigns.

Fears that latest EU opinion paper on vaping could contribute to 15 million European vapers returning to smoking

“

* See separate articles in the ‘features’ section of this issue on the UK’s Stoptober campaign and further reaction to the EU SHEER preliminary opinion.

“

This preliminary opinion paper overlooks credible facts and does nothing more than vilify vapers and e-cigarettes

All You Need to Know VAPERS 1 - 0 SMOKERS

Despite pressure from the Irish Heart Foundation, the Irish government rejects calls to increase the tax on e-liquids while raising cigarettes 50c per packet.

Words : Caroline Barry

Cigarette prices went up in the Irish Budget in October while the price of e-liquids was left unchanged.

A pack of 20 will now cost €14, an increase of 50c, when the budget comes into effect meaning that tax and duty accounts for 80 percent of the cost of cigarettes in Ireland.

The move is part of the government’s target of a smoke-free country by 2025 and the news was welcomed by Declan Connelly, Director of The Irish Vape Vendors Association (IVVA).

He said: “The Irish Vape Vendors Association welcome the fact that the Minister for Finance has decided not to add extra tax/excise duty to e-cigarettes and e-liquid.

“This is a very good measure for public health in that it helps to keep vaping for smokers affordable, and, in turn, helps encourage smokers to make the switch to vaping, a much safer alternative."

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF), which had called for higher taxes on e-cigarettes, said the failure to do so was “disappointing.”

Chris Macey, Head of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation said: “The 50c increase on tobacco is welcome but much more needs to be done. We are disappointed that there is no taxation on e-cigarette liquid.

“Tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland with almost 6,000 smokers dying each year from tobacco-related diseases.

“A healthier future is contingent on discouraging smoking and taking bold action. The Programme for Government was explicit in the role of a targeted taxation regime to specifically discourage vaping and e-cigarettes and there is clear evidence that tax increases on e-cigarettes are effective in reducing youth use.”

The IHF had called for the phased introduction of a €20 charge for a packet of cigarettes by 2025 and a new excise tax of 6c per millilitre of e-cigarette liquid to prevent youngsters becoming addicted to nicotine.

This is good for public health as it helps keep vaping for smokers affordable and helps encourage smokers switch to vaping.

NEW ZEALAND: IF YOU CAN’T SMOKE YOU CAN’T VAPE EITHER

Words: Patrick Griffin

It falls short of being an all-out vape ban and there is concern that New Zealand now equates vaping with smoking.

But the regulation of vaping for the country’s 200,000 e-cigarette users is generally seen as no real cause for concern.

The sale and use of e-cigarettes is still legal, it is just that there are fewer places where it is allowed, with vape bans operating at work, in the vicinity of schools and on all forms of public transport.

This means that new vape-free areas include buses, trains, taxis and rideshare services and entertainment venues including casinos, restaurants and enclosed areas of licensed premises.

Of more concern is that The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act also bans advertising and vaperelated sponsorship deals and many local councils have also made their outdoor city centre areas and council parks vape-free.

Jonathan Devery, co-owner of Alt New Zealand said: “Vaping is the most effective smoking cessation tool the world has ever had. Yet its advertising is now banned in New Zealand, which will simply and sadly lead to fewer Kiwis giving up cigarettes.

“The vape industry would’ve happily adhered to heavily regulated advertising and message restrictions like the alcohol industry does.

“Restricted advertising works well in the UK, but unfortunately New Zealand vape businesses have now lost all opportunity to reach out to smokers.”

New Zealand vape advocate Nancy Loucas said she fears the new rules will lead to stigmatisation of the country’s vapers by treating them like smokers.

The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy director said: “People are being asked to think a little more before they vape. The general rule is if you wouldn’t smoke there, you shouldn’t vape there.”

Workers will still be able to vape in company vehicles and there will be dedicated vaping areas in hospitals and rest homes. Employers will also be encouraged to provide outside vaping areas for staff where possible.

Loucas said: “Vaping is now effectively banned where smoking is, but it’s by no means banned outright. Instead, it’s finally a totally legalised activity for New Zealand adults, albeit now more tightly regulated.

“We encourage non-vaping Kiwis to remember that vaping is stopping their colleagues, friends, and family from smoking.

“We ask that vapers respect the new legal framework, but we also ask that everyone else respect that vapers can still legitimately vape in plenty of places.”

Further restrictions under the new Act will be phased in over the next 15 months.

Vaping at work, on public transport and near schools are all outlawed under tough new rules

Restricted advertising works well in the UK, but unfortunately New Zealand vape businesses have now lost all opportunity to reach out to smokers.

VAPING COVID TRANSMISSION RISK LOWER THAN TALKING

Words:

Vaping indoors increases the risk of transmitting COVID-19 by just one percent – a fraction of speaking or coughing, a study has found.

The preliminary research, which has not yet been peer reviewed, was conducted by teams in Mexico, New Zealand and the CoEHAR harm reduction research centre at the University of Catania, Italy.

The research team compared the risk of transmitting the coronavirus via speaking, regular breathing, whispering, coughing, singing and vaping. Exposure to vapour expelled by a mouth-to-lung vaper increased the transmission risk by one percent while exposure to direct-to-lung vapour increased it by 5-17 percent.

Meanwhile, six minutes per hour of speaking increased the transmission risk by 44 percent and coughing, by 260 percent.

Co-author Roberto Sussman of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said: “Vaping is an intermittent respiratory activity whose characteristic velocities, droplet diameters and emission rates are comparable to those of breathing and lesser than those of speaking, coughing or sneezing.

“This implies that in a shared indoor space, vaping only adds a minuscule extra contagion risk to risks already existent from rest breathing and other respiratory activities.”

The researchers stressed that while there was a small risk that vaping could spread coronavirus in enclosed spaces, the risk was far lower than others and that vaping indoors ‘does not require special extra interventions besides those already recommended for the general population: social distance and wearing face masks.’

The researchers said: “Vapers should be advised to be alert to the worries and fears of non-vapers when sharing indoor spaces or dwellings or when close to other citizens, and for safety measures to use low-powered devices for low intensity vaping.

“Vapers, however, deserve the same sensitivity, courtesy, and tolerance.”

The question of whether the coronavirus could be spread in e-cigarette vapour was addressed by Professor Caitlin Notley of Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in October.

Prof Notley said: “Someone infected with coronavirus clearly would be emitting viral [particles] in their vape if they were vaping, just the same as they would if they were breathing out or singing.

thing with vaping is it makes breath visible and so when you are outside you can see huge clouds of vapour floating away in the wind.”

“The

MTL vaping increases risk by just one percent

“Vaping only adds a minuscule extra contagion risk to risks already existent from rest breathing and other respiratory activities.”

Gordon Stribling

LANDMARK STUDY PROVES POD SWITCH BENEFIT

Pod systems are ‘considerably safer than combustible cigarettes,’ a landmark US study has found.

The Brown University research was the world’s first randomised clinical trial of fourth-generation pod e-cigarettes.

In the study, two-thirds of the 186 African American and Latinx participants were given e-cigarettes for six weeks while the remainder continued to smoke combustible tobacco as normal.

Ethnic minority groups typically experience higher rates of tobaccorelated morbidity and mortality than other groups despite smoking at a similar rate.

At the end of the study, the e-cigarette group exhibited significantly lower levels of the carcinogen NNAL than the smoking group.

The e-cigarette users also had considerably lower carbon monoxide levels and reported fewer respiratory symptoms.

There was also no significant difference in the levels of cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine, in each group, indicating that the e-cigarettes were an adequate nicotine replacement product.

Dr. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, a professor of behavioural and social sciences and medicine at Brown University, said: “Anyone under 21 should not take up cigarettes, e-cigarettes or any nicotine product - hands down, the best thing to do is to never start - but if people use tobacco

products, they should quit. “But if they cannot quit smoking combustible cigarettes, they should consider using novel nicotine products to either quit smoking altogether or to reduce their harm by transitioning fully to these products.”

The researchers noted that most of those who switched for the study remained tobacco-free for six months afterwards.

However, they now hope to conduct longer-term follow-up studies to see if the harm reduction benefits of vaping endure.

Ahluwalia said that as many dual users switch back to exclusive tobacco-use over time, there was a crucial need forWw interventions to support those who try to switch to vaping but are unsuccessful.

He added: “It’s possible that nicotine e-cigarettes and other harmreduction products will be game-changers for our field.

“I hope this study stimulates more people to do this research and to have an open mind about this. I also hope it inspires them to let science inform policy rather than emotion.”

Pod system reduced carcinogen and CO levels and improved respiratory symptoms

“It’s possible that nicotine e-cigarettes and other harm-reduction products will be game-changers for our field”

Words: Gordon Stribling

Vaping ENTREPRENEUR WITH BILLY WEBB FROM PROHIBITION

Words: Caroline Barry

Billy’s connection to vaping started when he switched from smoking. He said: “Vaping will always be something close to my heart, it helped me to quit smoking and helped multiple family and friends to break the habit. Back when I started vaping in 2012, there was not a great variety of products on offer which is what led me to get into the industry in the first place. I wanted to help as many people as possible.”

Prohibition started the following year, taking their name from a chance conversation about vaping being banned. “During a casual conversation in the Smartcigs Ltd offices, we were discussing what would happen if vaping and nicotine were to get banned. We said it would be like the prohibition era with the vaping equivalent of speakeasies. That’s how the concept for Prohibition was born. We opened our first retail store in 2014 where we created a relaxed environment for people to chill out, drink great coffee, enjoy themselves and test the latest products.”

The brand also started YouTube Channel, ProTV to provide vapers with a platform to tell their own stories about switching to vaping. “ProTV was put together to give everyone an insight to what Prohibition is like behind closed doors, it’s such an atmosphere here in the office, it has to be seen to be believed. We also like to give our customers the opportunity to maximise their exposure and talk about their experiences. It’s really interesting to hear the struggles they face, particularly overseas dealing with stricter regulations. It makes you realise how lucky we are in the UK with the TPD.”

Billy says the brand has been lucky with COVID-19, as they did not experience any difficulties until later in lockdown.

“As a manufacturer, COVID has not affected us in the same way that it has many retail businesses, the community of vapers is still there and more people are conscious of their health than ever before, driving a demand for e-liquid. However, there is a knock-on effect and with us being the first step in the chain, the effect of COVID did not hit us until August. Thankfully, it has not impacted business too negatively and we have been able to sustain and overcome.”

He adds that the brand had some time to reflect during lockdown and potentially add some new products to their line up. “COVID provided us with some downtime where we could reflect and focus on who we are and what we wanted our business to be moving forwards. We have now rebranded our umbrella company from Smartcigs Ltd to Rule13 Limited. This year has seen our first national listing as we have moved into the cannabis market with AddCBD now stocked in 800 Holland and Barrett stores. Later this month, Rule13 will take on a new venture in the Esports and gaming industry. Watch this space.”

Diary OF A VAPER

Walsh aka sixx_blox

I have been vaping for over eight years now and would consider myself to be an avid vaper and reviewer. I review for a number of companies on Instagram and am all about the fruity flavours these days. I’m blessed to have the sponsors that I do and the following that I have built.

I was 17 when I started smoking. There was peer pressure from my mates as well as problems at home. I smoked for six years before vaping finally set me on the path to a smokefree life after a few false starts with other quit methods.

The turning point was being asthmatic and being out of breath constantly, waking up in the middle of the night for a fag because I couldn’t sleep. Then there were the general health issues, fatigue and smelling of smoke all the time.

I started off with vanilla custard which I vaped for four

months straight. At the beginning, I was using the Kangertech Subox mod which back then cost me £50 (batteries included). It was this device that helped me finally quit smoking for good.

I had tried other quit methods before that. There was Champix, gum, patches…every smoking alternative possible. But I always landed back on the fags. Vaping was calling me so I decided to stick with it and I’m grateful that I did. The weeks turned into months which turned into years and I was still smoke-free and it’s all thanks to vaping.

Having asthma, this was the best decision I ever made and I strive to help people that want to give up smoking and transition into vaping. The freedom to breathe and feel fresh-lunged is the best feeling in the world. So, what’s your excuse? Give up smoking today and join the vape rebellion!

Dan

ANOTHERSpooktacular Year

Vampire Vape has met the challenges of 2020 head on

Words: Gordon Stribling

Blackburn-based Vampire Vape is one of the UK’s most iconic brands. Walk into any vape shop here and you will almost certainly find an array of their legendary e-liquids lining the shelves.

That said, 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in the vape industry and beyond. We caught up with Phil [P] and Kanesh [K] to find out what they’ve been up to this year and what we can expect from 2021.

What have been some of your highlights from 2020?

K: At the beginning of the year we launched our Dot Pro which has seen huge success. It’s palm-sized, easily maintainable with a disposable pod system and has become the ultimate starter kit to

help curb those cravings!

We completed the acquisition of Premier Vaping in August 2020. Premier Vaping has an established position within our market and this partnership will allow us to develop further relationships with other businesses within the sector.

Finally, we have continued to develop our flavours even further with the all new Caribbean Ice in May and the full Koncept range in October!

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. How have you guys weathered the storm?

K: We understand that this year has been difficult for everybody in the UK and the rest of the world. From a business perspective, we

have a diversified client base where we saw a mix of customers that had experienced a significant increase in demand for our products. Being agile and quick to adapt has helped us to continue to satisfy and fulfil all our customer demand during these tough times.

Vampire Vape launched into space in September! How on earth/in space did you make it happen?

P: We teamed up with Sent into Space who are leading experts in this area to make all of this possible. Our award-winning Heisenberg was carried into space with a hydrogen-filled balloon, reaching an eventual 121,000ft. Its journey was captured on camera which meant we got the incredible views that we have shared with the public. We are thrilled that we have been able to pull this off and send our award-winning Heisenberg to new heights!

Could you tell us about your Kick it in the Butt campaign?

P: Our three ambassadors were selected for individual reasons for wanting to make the switch, with the ambition of quitting for good. Each ambassador was given a specific bundle, featuring a vape kit suited to those new to vaping, four 10ml e-liquids, a stress ball and a quitter diary. To successfully make it through the challenge, the ambassadors keep in regular contact with the Vampire Vape Team stating their daily cigarette intake so they could match the level of nicotine with the e-liquids they received.

Our ambassadors provided weekly updates on their progress which we shared across our social media channels to support and encourage more smokers and new vapers to do the same.

How do you meet the challenge of winning over the 7.2million Brits who continue to smoke?

P: The simplicity of our Dot Pro system has been key to winning over British smokers. The device allows customers to change their pod with a simple switch, click and go. In addition to this, the Quitter’s Diaries help motivate customers who are currently going through the switch by allowing them to feel as though they have achieved something day-by-day. We are also actively working on smoking cessation projects which will help us to develop further marketing strategies to ensure that we are helping people the best way we can.

Lots of brands have come and gone over the years - what is it about Vampire Vape that keeps customers coming back again and again?

P: Innovation. This year alone, we have developed over 100 new flavours in our research and development facility. We have also been working on the various nicotine formats including hybrids to ensure we have the right product available for each and every user.

Our marketing team works hard to ensure that we are staying relevant by continuously requesting customer feedback but more importantly, using that feedback to drive innovation and change. We also work closely with our resellers who are some of the most knowledgeable in the industry and genuine experts. Some of these people have been servicing clients since 2010 and are an invaluable asset to us.

What new products can we expect from you as we move into 2021?

P: We have a very busy and experienced product development team who have lots of new and exciting things planned for 2021 – watch this space!

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to any Vampire Vape customers reading this?

P: We would like to thank all our customers and distributors for their continued support and we are looking forward to a return to normality and hopefully seeing you all at the 2021 exhibitions......we hope!

“ “

Our busy and experienced product development team have lots of new and exciting things planned for 2021

MEET THE FOUNDING FATHERS…OF Modern E-liquid

Once dismissed as ‘too corporate,’ Innevape’s Jeff Connell and Tom Klingensmith share their journey from industry newcomers to world leaders in e-liquid production

Words: Patrick Griffin

It is probably not too much of an exaggeration to describe Jeff Connell and Tom Klingensmith as the founding fathers of modern high-quality e-liquid.

When other companies were content to knock out cheap liquids and brand them like children’s products, Jeff and Tom did things differently. The Innevape founders were not interested in making a fast buck. They didn’t want to pile ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap without any thought for the long-term future of the business.

While the owners of rival companies treated themselves to flashy Ferraris, Jeff was still riding around in a battered old Toyota pickup truck. Their slow and steady approach allowed them to get everything right and build a business with solid foundations, but they were derided for doing so.

The pair were dismissed as being too corporate and moving too slowly in an industry known for its fast pace and in-your-face brashness. And now, eight years later, many of the haters who dismissed their approach to business are long gone while Jeff and Tom virtually rule the world when it comes to e-liquid sales.

They took their time to get things right and now Heisenberg* by Innevape Labs has been honoured as the first inductee of the new Vapouround Hall of Fame – an award specifically created to honour innovative and truly exceptional companies, brands or products within the vaping sector.

From starting a single brick-and-mortar store in Florida, Innevape now operates one of the largest online vaping platforms in the world with their products sold in more than 30 countries around the globe.

But behind the brand stand two men that built a market-shifting com pany with nothing but a shared love of vaping and a desire to provide a life-changing product to ex-smokers across the globe.

“Making money is great but helping other people stop smoking has been our whole mission” said Tom.

Jeff used to be a chain-smoker and would accompany his late-night screen-writing sessions with an unhealthy supply of cigarettes. But after waking up in a hospital bed he decided to turn his attention towards find ing a safer smoking alternative. says Jeff.

I firmly believe a hundred percent that had I not switched to vaping, I may not be here right now

At the same time, following a conversation with his youngest daughter, Tom decided it was time to put his 27-year-long smoking habit to rest.

“She said: ‘Dad you know cigarettes will kill you, why do you do it?’ and that’s the hardest question I wasn’t able to answer” said Tom.

“She was seven years old and I had to sit down and explain my ad diction to her.”

After crossing paths in late 2012, Jeff and Tom shared their own ex periences with vaping and noticed a gap in the market for high-qual ity e-liquids.

“I got really obsessed with vaping and started learning how to make my own stuff” said Jeff. “But once I learned how…I noticed how bad other e-liquid was.”

The two quickly got to work, pairing Tom’s business acumen with Jeff’s natural creativity – a combination that would later lead to the conception of world-class e-liquids like Heisenberg* and Vape My Day.

Before long, Jeff and Tom were regular features at tradeshows across the country where they would put their natural charm and showmanship to good use.

“We were going around setting our own booth up while we watched these other companies have teenage kids out there screwing around, smoking pot all day and throwing bottles at people.

“While they were making more money, we were investing ours. I was still driving a Toyota pickup truck and these guys were buying brand new Ferraris,” said Jeff.

Despite the pitfalls and overzealous competition, it’s Innevape that has grown from a fresh-faced brand to a staple of the vaping community. A feat that can be put down to the perseverance of its founders.

“Business is nothing but risk…and you have to take those risks and build for something bigger in the future.

“If your treadmill is going 60 miles an hour and you’re still doing 50, it’s going to throw you off,” says Jeff.

“I’m really looking forward to moving on, getting some bigger things for ourselves and just having some room to grow,” Tom add ed.

As the founding fathers of the Vapouround Hall of Fame it seems the duo’s tenacity and dedication has not gone unnoticed.

“I guess the long and short of it is, thank goodness it paid off,” says Jeff.

“Thank goodness that right is still right, because in the world right now, nothing is what it should be. Nothing’s tangible, the hard work and the rules don’t seem to apply. To me the good guys won the right thing.”

* Heisenberg by Innevape was a winner in the Vapouround Awards 2020 held at our Vape Live USA 2020 online VOXPO platform in No vember. This product is sold and marketed as "The Berg" in the UK.

She said: ‘Dad you know cigarettes will kill you, why do you do it?’ and that’s the hardest ques tion I wasn’t able to an swer.

Heisenberg* by Innevape Labs has been honoured as the first inductee of the new Vapouround Hall of Fame.

* Heisenberg Menthol by Innevape won 'Best Menthol' in the Vapouround Awards 2020 held at our Vape Live USA 2020 online event in November. This product is sold as The Berg Menthol in the UK.

Honouring innovative and truly exceptional companies, brands or products within the vaping sector.

FOUR OUT OF FIVE US DOCTORS THINK NICOTINE CAUSES CANCER

…while even more wrongly blame nicotine for causing heart disease.

Words: Gordon Stribling

The contrast between the British and American health communities’ stance of vaping could not be more stark. Here, Public Health England, the Royal College of Physicians, Cancer Research UK and more back e-cigarettes as a less harmful, smoking cessation tool. But in the US, vaping is lumped together with tobacco and is even considered worse in some quarters.

Now, a new study from Rutgers University has shed some light on why so many outspoken individuals in the US public health community refused to acknowledge the potential benefits of switching to vaping.

The survey of 1,020 doctors from six specialities found that 80 percent believed that nicotine caused cancer, rather than the toxic substances in tobacco smoke.

When asked about heart disease, 83 percent strongly believed that nicotine was directly linked to the condition and 81 percent thought it contributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Pulmonologists who focus on the respiratory system were less likely than other physicians to think that nicotine contributed to the condition.

Michael B. Steinberg, medical director of the Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, said: “Physicians must understand the actual risk of nicotine use as they are critical in the prescription and recommendation of FDAapproved nicotine replacement therapy products to help patients who use other dangerous forms of tobacco. “Doctors should be able to accurately communicate these risks, which may include low-nicotine cigarettes, which are not safer than traditional cigarettes.”

The researchers suggested that a communications initiative could help correct the misperceptions so that doctors can better assist patients addicted to more harmful tobacco products.

The CDC estimates that more than 34 million Americans continue to smoke despite the risks and alternatives available, such as e-cigarettes.

The health body states that e-cigarettes ‘have the potential to benefit adults who smoke and who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products.’

However, government authorities, health charities and anti-tobacco groups remain hostile towards vaping.

Cristine Delnevo, director of the Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies and professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, said: “Correcting misperceptions in medicine should be a priority given the FDA’s proposed nicotine-centered framework that includes reducing nicotine content in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels while encouraging safer forms of nicotine like NRT, to help with smoking cessation or noncombustible tobacco, like smokeless tobacco for harm reduction.”

However, Delnevo stopped short of suggesting that physicians should encourage smokers to consider e-cigarettes as a form of harm reduction despite this approach being commonplace in the UK. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the bad press vaping has attracted in the US over the past few years.

nicotine delivery systems on a sliding scale of harm, with patches and gum at one end, combustible tobacco at the other and vaping somewhere in between. While UK doctors may be more clued up on the relative harms of nicotine products, the same cannot be said about the public.

misperceptions in medicine should be a priority”

The youth vaping narrative, the EVALI outbreak and the fact that the FDA classes nicotine vape products as ‘tobacco’ have all poisoned the well.

In contrast, the UK public health community views

A 2015 report by the Royal Society for Public Health found that nine out of 10 people believed that nicotine itself was harmful despite it being ‘no more dangerous than caffeine.’

Then-chief executive Shirley Cramer said at the time: "Getting people on to nicotine rather than using tobacco would make a big difference to the public's health. "Clearly there are issues in terms of having smokers addicted to nicotine but this would move us on from having a serious and costly public health issue from smoking-related disease to instead address the issue of addiction to a substance which in and of itself is not too dissimilar to caffeine addiction."

“Correcting

FROM CBD TO TPA

Germany is set to regulate CBD e-liquids

as tobacco products

Words: Gordon Stribling

The European CBD industry faces an uncertain future. From March 2021, most CBD products will need a novel foods application in order to remain on the market. The directive’s purview includes edibles such as gummies, drinks, tinctures and oral sprays. Only CBD skincare and vape products will be exempt.

But from January 1, CBD e-liquids will be regulated under Germany’s Tobacco Products Act. Previously the preserve of nicotine e-liquids used to help smokers quit, the classification will require companies to provide German authorities with toxicological data and information on production processes, label their products and adhere to a host of strict advertising restrictions.

Kai-Friedrich Niermann is a lawyer specialising in cannabis law and legal adviser to the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). He has written several legal opinions on nicotine-free CBD e-liquids. Niermann explains what the new classification will mean for CBD e-liquids: “Every product, which was legally in the market until the end of the year, can stay on the market for another six months.

“But for your product to remain on the market after that, you have to notify it within the system as well as a tobacco notification in the EU. And you have to do an emissions test to show what’s in there.

“There are also more labelling requirements, so you have to have a leaflet inside the box with all the information on the product.”

These new testing and labelling requirements are likely to add an additional €2,000-4,000 to the cost of bringing a CBD e-liquid to market, Neirmann says. While this is a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of a novel foods application, the additional cost could see CBD e-liquids pushed to the sidelines.

“One of my clients is the founder and director of the Hall of Vape event in Germany,” Niermann says.

“He says that CBD e-liquids are a niche product. They don’t play any role during his events and are a small part of the German market.”

Despite its niche status, vaping is recognised as one of the fastest and most effective ways of consuming CBD. Users often consume CBD this way to respond to issues as they arise, rather than taking an edible which might last longer but will take more time to kick in.

Along with the testing and labelling requirements, CBD companies will no longer be able to advertise their e-liquids online, on outdoor advertising or on exterior retailer walls, though the outdoor restrictions will not take effect until January 2024.

The advertising restrictions will place yet another barrier on CBD companies that are very limited in how they promote their products.

Retailers and manufacturers are prohibited from making medical claims about CBD as the compound is, at least for now, classified as a dietary supplement rather than a medicine.

The European Commission issued a preliminary analysis in July, stating that it was considering reclassifying CBD as a narcotic.

The German Association for Cannabis Dispensing Pharmacies

issued a press release in August, rejecting the narcotic classification. However, the body said that CBD should be controlled as a pharmaceutical and not a cosmetic or dietary supplement.

The organisation said: “CBD is an important ingredient of the cannabis plant, which both influences the effects of THC and can trigger significant effects due to its ability to activate special receptors of the body’s endocannabinoid system.

“As a result, CBD is classified as an active pharmaceutical ingredient and must be treated as such.”

The new e-liquid restrictions are in stark contrast to the UK, whose tobacco laws also fall under the EU’s TPD.

While non-compliant e-liquids will be allowed to remain on the shelves for six months, Germany’s enforcement of the novel foods directive suggests that the authorities will not hesitate to clamp down.

Niermann says: “They are enforcing the novel food directive massively now, with criminal proceedings with police raiding shops and confiscating goods.

“Just last week, I got three calls from shop owners who were facing preliminary proceedings.”

“CBD e-liquids are a niche product. They are a small part of the German market.”

A N D

BIGGER BETTER

VOXPO: Vape Live returned with an incredible virtual awards show and some fascinating guest speakers

Words: Gordon Stribling

The first VOXPO event attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world, so bringing it back was a no-brainer. This time around we were on US time, which meant we could attract a whole new crowd and exhibitors, not to mention expert speakers.

The auditorium proved to be a massive draw, with panellists and industry specialists covering everything from advocacy and policy to the mechanics of vaping.

Here are some of our highlights from the auditorium.

Campaign to Keep Vape Shops Open during Coronavirus Lockdown with Nigel Quine, Cuts Ice

The UK is a world-leader in championing vaping for tobacco harmreduction. Public Health England, the Royal College of Physicians and Cancer Research UK have all publicly stated that vaping is much less harmful than smoking.

But despite the UK government acknowledging vaping’s potential, vape shops have been declared non-essential businesses ahead of the two nationwide lockdowns and could be again.

Nigel urged vapers to speak out.

He said: “The key stakeholders are actually the smokers and vapers. Any of those people who can write their own letters talking about their experience with vape shops to their local MP, that will absolutely help.”

Back by Popular Demand: Mo Hassan, Dr. Vapes

Mo returned to the virtual expo floor to give his advice to ensure that the industry survives and thrives in the months and years ahead. Mo stressed the important role vape shops play as the face of the industry and in helping smokers transition to the potentially lifechanging alternative that is vaping.

He also encouraged brands to develop a strong digital presence and personality which will help grow their brands during lockdowns.

The Vapouround Awards

The first virtual Vapouround Awards ceremony was a huge hit, attracting a record number of votes. (See elsewhere in this magazine for the full results of the 2020 Vapouround Awards.)

Vaping and the Gateway Myth with Michael Landl, World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA)

The so-called ‘gateway effect’ of vaping to smoking is pretty much accepted by many in the US, despite evidence showing that the opposite is far more accurate. Vaping is a gateway out of smoking, not into it.

Michael detailed the work the WVA is undertaking to unite vapers and get their voices heard by those who draft policies around tobacco and harm reduction.

He discussed the dangers of flavour bans on public health, the problem of black markets (particularly in the US) and the role vaping could and should play in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Florida Smoke Free Association (FSFA)

The FSFA were out in full force over the weekend, with four talks, including some insightful and engaging Q&As.

Their talks were wrapped up by Zack Goodson, who explained that there is a middle ground between stopping young people from vaping and allowing adult smokers to access the products.

We also heard about the political battles advocacy and lobbying groups continue to face in this increasingly hostile climate.

Zack also noted that all of the negative studies around vaping are based on flawed methodology.

Vape Live USA 2020 - The Finale

After an incredible weekend of speakers, it was great to wrap up with the man who kicked it all off, Jeff Connell from Innevape alongside his business partner Tom Klingensmith.

Jeff shared his incredible story of how vaping literally saved his life, inspiring him to make his own liquid and, eventually, world-leading e-liquid brand, Innevape.

Tom is also now eight years cigarette-free, and it’s all thanks to vaping.

Asked what their secret to a successful business was, Jeff said: “It’s all about perseverance. It never fails you.

“To me, the vape industry is the ultimate test of that perseverance.”

Five Years of Vapouround Magazine, Travelling the World and What’s Next for VOXPO

Following a hilarious awards show on Thursday, Vapouround’s Paul Caplin and Patrick Griffin were back.

Paul shared how VOXPO grew from a seed of an idea in 2019 to a massive, international operation just months later.

We also heard about Vapouround’s albeit more steady rise from a giveaway at the first Vaper Expo to the world’s best known vape publication.

What a ride!

Paul said: “You go to Colombia and you see our logo on billboards. You go to America, you walk into any expo and everyone knows Vapouround. If you’re wearing the logo, people will approach you.

“It’s humbling, it’s huge and it’s come from a little office in Derby that used to be a local newspaper!”

THINK YOU KNOW Nicotine?

In his follow up documentary to ‘A Billion Lives’, film director Aaron Biebert says you don’t

Words: Caroline Barry

Aaron Biebert’s new documentary “You Don’t Know Nicotine” – the much-heralded sequel to A Billion Lives – is finally out.

Biebert was inspired to make his original documentary after a colleague was diagnosed with cancer.

He said: “I took over as administrator of a long-term care facility about 10 years ago when the previous administrator was diagnosed with lung cancer.

In light of his cancer battle, we wanted to end smoking in the facility but the best we could offer was chewing gum but now we are seeing people using nicotine vapour devices.”

A Billion Lives, which was released in 2016 and won multiple awards, was inspired by Biebert reading a World Healh Organization report which predicted that one billion people would die this century from smoking.

He knew right away that he had to do something. I know that’s a highly debated number but at the time, it was shocking. We felt people weren’t being honest about it for the right reasons. We started our research and decided to make our first film about smoking-related illness.”

The reaction to A Billion Lives was mixed. Aaron explains that the film was ignored by public health officials due to the topic. “I found it was largely ignored by most of

the media and public health officials as it wasn’t convenient for them. We asked a lot of hard questions and brought up a lot of issues around funding, influence and conflict of interest. It was uncomfortable for a lot of them so they ignored it.”

Now four years later he feels it is time to address the issue again to clear up many misunderstandings about the subject. Aaron said: “I have a lot of things I would do differently from the original film five years ago. I realised when I took a good hard look at our work, I’m not sure we understand nicotine.

“We were originally comparing it to smoking but what if you had never smoked a cigarette but are choosing to use nicotine vapes or snus? So that’s where we said, it’s time to take a look at nicotine itself because if there is something wrong with it then we need to admit that. It’s been quite a journey.”

The film presents both sides of the debate surrounding smoking, nicotine and public health but how easy was it to balance both arguments? “Besides religion and politics, it seems like nicotine has got to be one of these topics that gets people talking.

“Every time people ask me, what are you working on now? I say, it’s a feature-length documentary about nicotine, they get this look and change the topic. People, given the history and information campaigns,

don’t trust anyone talking about it unless they are a doctor. People are skeptical about the topic of nicotine and find it uncomfortable.”

As uncomfortable as the film has made people about the topic of nicotine, Aaron found that tobacco companies were disappointed they hadn’t been able to express an opinion. “We had some people that would come up after premieres that worked for big cigarette companies who were disappointed that we didn’t interview them.

“They would have liked a chance to respond but at the same time, everyone wanted to hear new voices on the subject. With this film, we made an editorial choice not to speak to cigarette companies. They sell cigarettes which is not what we are interested in learning about. The movie is about nicotine itself, not the delivery methods.”

The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t appear in the movie as filming had completed by the time it began. However lockdown has interfered with the premiers and screenings. “The film was completed last November and we had our big premiere in the famous Riverside Theatre. It was looking like it was going to sell out and we had a big weekend planned for that then we had to cancel it which hurt the momentum.

A lot of people were eager to learn about nicotine because of a loved one who uses it. I have heard a lot of people who use nicotine vapour devices are very nervous about the film. For those using nicotine, that’s a pretty scary thought that perhaps they don’t know what they’re using every day. It will be a complete eye-opener for the general public, but perhaps a lifechanger for those currently using nicotine.”

You Don’t Know Nicotine is out now. Details at knownicotine.com/

"It’s time to take a look at nicotine itself because if there is something wrong with it then we need to admit that.”

A NEW FIRST FOR THE VAPOUROUND AWARDS

Unlike every Vapouround Awards ceremony which has gone before this one took place online. But, despite the change in format, just like every previous year it had fun, excitement, entertainment and drama.

We introduced a new major award – the Vapouround Hall of Fame – to honour a company, brand or product which introduced something innovative and truly exceptional to the vaping community. The first inductee to the Hall of Fame was Heisenberg* from Innevape Labs.

In another first, the COVID restrictions meant that we gave our regular panel of judges a break and allowed the public to choose the e-liquid and hardware award winners.

We also had a readers’ awards category for some key awards including Vaper of the Year, Vape Shop of the Year and Reviewer of the Year.

The online awards ceremony still managed to pack in some outstanding magic from our resident magician Nick Einhorn and some (slightly) less outstanding magic from Vapouround founder Paul Caplin.

Going online also proved something that, deepdown, we all knew. A virtual Johnny Lovell is just as madcap and crazy as the real-life version that has become a huge hit at both Vaper Expo and the offline version of the Vapouround Awards.

Johnny is laugh-out-loud funny and his video contributions had the entire Vapouround team in stitches as we put the awards

We brought the 2020 ceremony to VOXPO and saw a record number of votes cast by our readers

Words: Caroline Barry

ceremony together. Put simply, it is impossible not to laugh at Johnny when he is at his comedic best.

The Awards, sponsored by Innevape Labs, opened with a look back over the five years of Vapouround Magazine to celebrate our fifth anniversary year.

The video highlights charted the incredible growth of the magazine from newspaper pullout to the global brand it is today.

Hosts Paul Caplin and Patrick Griffin reminisced about their favourite moments from awards over the past five years. For Paul, it was the sense of community brought on by everyone being together. He said: “What stands out for me is seeing industry leaders and competitors sat in one room supporting each other, networking and enjoying the celebration of what has become an amazing life-saving industry.”

Patrick remembered a more lively moment. “I think my standout moment was at the second Vapouround Awards when the Scottish guy accepting for Riot Squad lifted his kilt to reveal what exactly

was underneath, which was nothing at all.”

One of the highlights for me was when Jeff from Innevape gave his rock rendition of the Earth, Wind and Fire's classic “September”, which saw Patrick and Paul give us their best moves as they danced away to the melody.

The event drew to a close with a round-up of the past five years of Vapouround Awards including a look at Vapouround staff members past and present.

A full list of all the awards categories are listed in this issue of the magazine and if you missed the ceremony itself, it is available to view via the https://voxpo.vfairs.com website.

Now that this year’s ceremony has come to a close, the countdown to Vapouround Awards 2021 has officially begun.

* Heisenberg by Innevape was a winner in the Vapouround Awards 2020 held at our Vape Live USA 2020 online VOXPO platform in November. This product is sold and marketed as "The Berg" in the UK.

“The one that stands out for me is seeing 500 industry leaders and competitors sat in one room supporting each other, networking and enjoying the celebration of what has become an amazing life-saving industry.”

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

We would like to thank all our wonderful sponsors for the first online edition of the Vapouround Awards – hosted here on the Voxpo Vape Live platform. It was a fantastic evening – as it always is – and we thank all the following sponsors who joined us for this annual highlight of the e-cigarette industry.

Vapouround Awards Official Sponsor – Innevape

Founded in 2013 and standing at the top of the vaping industry ever since, Innevape is one of the first major e-liquid brands to be founded in the USA. With quality products and customer service at the centre of everything they do, Innevape has quickly grown from a brick-and-mortar store in Florida to one of the most popular vaping brands in the world.

Best Mod – Komodo Vape

Starting five years ago as a small, family-run business, Komodo Vape is now an award-winning, world-class supplier of quality e-liquids. Since it’s conception, the Komodo Vape team has strived to tweak, change and refine their expansive range of products, shifting from being the new kids on the block to setting the industry standard.

Best Unregulated Mod - Cotton & Cable Craft Liquid

For more than two years, the minds behind Cotton & Cable Craft Liquid have brewed a selection of flawless e-liquids. Their commitment to providing the ultimate vaping experience has led to a focus on quality ingredients and unrivalled production.

Best Pod System - Barehead E-Liquids

Born and bred in Berlin, Germany, Barehead E-Liquids was created with the purpose of elevating the vaping industry. Their drive to provide quality service paired with their catalogue of award-winning e-liquids has allowed countless smokers to kick the habit. Understanding the quitting power of their products, the Barehead team pride themselves in maintaining a brand that represents a truly smoke-free lifestyle.

Best Tank- Barehead E-Liquids

Born and bred in Berlin, Germany, Barehead E-Liquids was created with the purpose of elevating the vaping industry. Their drive to provide quality service paired with their catalogue of award-winning e-liquids has allowed countless smokers to kick the habit. Understanding the quitting power of their products, the Barehead team pride themselves in maintaining a brand that represents a truly smoke-free lifestyle.

Best Accessory - Barehead E-Liquids

Born and bred in Berlin, Germany, Barehead E-Liquids was created with the purpose of elevating the vaping industry. Their drive to provide quality service paired with their catalogue of award-winning e-liquids has allowed countless smokers to kick the habit. Understanding the quitting power of their products, the Barehead team pride themselves in maintaining a brand that represents a truly smoke-free lifestyle.

Best Menthol/Best Dessert/ Best Beverage/E-Liquid of the Year – VOXPO

In July 2020, Vapouround teamed up with sister publication The CANNAVIST to bring you the groundbreaking VOXPO experience. The virtual vape and CBD event is online 365 days a year, with four live, threeday events welcoming businesses and consumers from all over the globe.

Best Tobacco - Arcus Compliance

Arcus Compliance was built on a very simple idea; to change the way the industry viewed compliance. By providing the tools for success and delivering dependable after-care, co-founders Lee Bryan and John Walker have brought their desire to care for their clients to life. Arcus Compliance now represents many of the world’s most sought-after device manufacturers and e-liquid brands.

Best Fruit – Dr. Vapes

First producing their flagship brew in 2014, Mo and his team quickly took the vaping world by storm. The Dr. Vapes team lives by a shared mission statement – to help ex-smokers from all walks of life make the change for the better. After years of refinement, Dr. Vapes has blossomed into a proprietor of worldclass e-liquids which have a truly global following.

Best Salt Nicotine - The Vape Makers

Based in the heart of the UK, The Vape Makers is a brand built on the foundations of determination, commitment and 10 years of industry experience. With the ambition to create unique and outstanding e-liquids integrated into the actions of the whole team, The Vape Makers are well on their way to defining the next generation of vaping.

Reviewer of the Year – Barehead E-Liquids

Born and bred in Berlin, Germany, Barehead E-Liquids was created with the purpose of elevating the vaping industry. Their drive to provide quality service paired with their catalogue of award-winning e-liquids has allowed countless smokers to kick the habit. Understanding the quitting power of their products, the Barehead team pride themselves in maintaining a brand that represents a truly smoke-free lifestyle.

Best Branding and Marketing – Barehead E-Liquids

Born and bred in Berlin, Germany, Barehead E-Liquids was created with the purpose of elevating the vaping industry. Their drive to provide quality service paired with their catalogue of award-winning e-liquids has allowed countless smokers to kick the habit. Understanding the quitting power of their products, the Barehead team pride themselves in maintaining a brand that represents a truly smoke-free lifestyle.

Vaper of the Year – Vaponaire

Cherry-picking the very best flavours that Japan has to offer, Vaponaire are renowned for their superior taste and bold mixtures. The Japanese-born, London-based e-liquid brand is dedicated to providing customers with high-quality vaping products and unparalleled customer service. Although they are still a relatively fresh-faced company, Vaponaire brings the same tenacity and skill as long-standing brands.

Vape Shop of the Year – King Kong Vape Juice

King Kong Vape Juice was created in 2018 with the goal of rising to the top of the market. Just two years later and the brand is producing some of the cleanest, tastiest e-liquid available for customers across the globe. After investing in sourcing the finest ingredients for their e-liquids, King Kong Vape Juice now sits on a throne of bold taste and exceptional brewing.

Best Online Vape Retailer – We Are Supergood

Born from a love of vaping and a goal to deliver outstanding products, We Are Supergood has grown into one of the largest brands in the world. With a collection of dedicated users spanning the globe, what started as a friendship has flourished into an international vaping family where maintaining a sense of community within the industry is at the top of Supergood’s agenda.

Best Up and Coming Brand – Crazy Cloudzzz

Just a few months ago, Crazy Cloudzzz were shipping out one or two products to a selection of loyal users. Today, they’re one of the most widely-trusted online retailers on the market. This up-and-coming brand has focused on providing smokers with a safer, more flavoursome alternative to traditional cigarettes, offering a vast selection of elite hardware for the ultimate smoking cessation.

Best Distributor – We Are Supergood

Born from a love of vaping and a goal to deliver outstanding products, We Are Supergood has grown into one of the largest brands in the world. With a collection of dedicated users spanning the globe, what started as a friendship has flourished into an international vaping family where maintaining a sense of community within the industry is at the top of Supergood’s agenda.

Innovation of the Year – Aspire

This titan of the vaping industry has utilised near limitless creativity and commitment to become one of the most widely-respected brands. None of this success has come to Aspire by chance. Instead, their cuttingedge products are the result of continued technical advancements and the hard work of their research and development team.

Industry Leader – Zombie Vapes

Formerly Vaping Bad, Zombie Vapes was established back in October 2017. Armed with a new name, fresh branding and a love for all things vape, the brand has taken strides towards the very top of the industry. Committed to upholding the appropriate standards, Zombie Vapes ensures their Cheshire-based production facility complies with the necessary health and safety procedures.

Vapouround Hall of Fame Award - Grey Haze Distro

Grey Haze started as a family-owned, independent vape supplier based in Birmingham. However, before long the small shop in Digbeth was traded in for a six store, one distribution centre and online website vaping empire. The range of products Grey Haze has on offer covers every corner of vaping. All wrapped in the same user-oriented values as when it was a local brick and mortar shop.

Outstanding Contribution to the Vape Industry – Vapouround Magazine

Since its formation in 2015, Vapouround has become a leading voice in the global vape industry and is known throughout the world. The multi-award-winning agazine has partnered with many of the leading vape events across the globe and to meet the demands of our digital future, Vapouround has a growing online presence through its website, blog and social media, with almost 45,000 followers on Instagram alone.

WHO THE DEVIL IS DEAN?

He’s been posting YouTube reviews since 2015, is highly respected within the community and is better known as The Devil Vaper.

Words: Benedict Jones

Dean, AKA The Devil Vaper, has built up a loyal following from years of vaping experience and the ability to not pull any punches when it comes to his assessment of products.

Like many vapers, Dean’s journey began with a desire to quit smoking and a visit to a local specialist vape retailer to find out what it was all about.

He said: “I got into vaping in 2014 when I was fed up of smoking around Mrs Devil. I hated the way it smelled, and the harm that it was causing the people around me as well as myself. I decided one day to pop to my local vape shop, Liberro (a big shout out to those guys!) and see what they could do.

After an hour or so of testing, he left with a Liberro AMO Starter Kit, their version of an eGo/CE4 Combo and an e-liquid called ‘Eskimo’. He was a menthol smoker and thought that vaping a menthol e-liquid would provide the best chance of quitting. It worked. He ditched the cigarettes that evening and has never been back. Dean recalls: “I was one of the only people in my friends’ circle that vaped. They kept asking me what the flavours were like and were interested in how it helped me quit smoking so easily. So, I turned to Instagram to write short written reviews, with a couple of supporting pictures.

“Friends from vape groups urged me to get onto YouTube and put my opinion on there so in 2015 “The Devil Vaper” was born.”

Soon he was helping people quit smoking, offering suggestions on the best vape products to buy and explaining what different e-liquids tasted like. The formula worked and he built up a very loyal following and a reputation for providing factual and informed content.

Social media sites are constantly shifting the goal posts when it comes to what kind of content is allowed, which means content creators like Dean must be ever more conscious about how they approach reviews.

He said: “YouTube is slowly tightening things down to make it ever more family-friendly but it already has YouTube Kids so why can’t the rest of the platform be a place for adults to express themselves by posting adult content?

“As a vaping content creator on YouTube, you have to be careful with the way you word things. For example, posting a link to a

vendor’s website will get you a strike on your channel. This is particularly annoying because we are talking about an adult product that has the potential to save many lives.”

Partnering with brands is commonplace for content creators but Dean has to believe in the brands he works alongside. He said: “Take Zeus Juice for example, I love their products, the way they market them and how the company does things. They are also happy for me to openly express my opinions on their e-liquids, good or bad. They kindly supply me with a discount code for my followers too, which is a nice way of giving back to the community.”

As for teaming up with Vapouround, I was honoured to be asked by Paul to work alongside you guys. Vapouround is like the Vogue Magazine of the vaping scene and if I can help people out and be helped back in return, then it is all good with me. There are a few things in the pipeline that I am excited for, especially when it comes to VOXPO and other vaping events.”

Dean has also developed his own reviewing style over the years and has no plans to change. “I won’t be told what to say in my

“Vapouround is like the Vogue Magazine of the vaping scene and if I can help people out and be helped back in return, then it is all good with me.”

When it comes to his own vaping preferences, Dean enjoys simple, easily accessible products.

“I am mainly a regulated mod and stock coil tank user. The mod has to be sturdy, rugged and have enough battery power to last me the day. I used the Rincoe Manto S for quite a few months, then I went on to the GeekVape Aegis Legend. More recently I have been on the VooPoo Argus GT which is a great little workhorse.

Dean has recently celebrated five years on YouTube, making him one of the longest-running reviewers in the UK scene. He also has plenty of ambitions for the future when it comes to developing his own vaping products and said: “I would be interested in making a stock coil tank to begin with. I have a few companies in mind that I would like to work with based on the quality and performance of their previous products.”

Glantz FOR THE MEMORIES

Vape industry critic and author of retracted heart study retires

Words: Gordon Stribling

If you were to ask the tobacco harm reduction community to list the biggest thorns in the side of vaping, Professor Stanton Glantz would surely come out on top.

For years, the vehemently anti-vaping researcher-cum-activist authored disputed papers, appeared as a talking head in antivaping films and enthusiastically tweeted his controversial opinions, arguably playing a significant role in carving the hostile environment American vapers face today.

Now, the director of the University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education has retired.

In an email to colleagues, Glantz wrote: “I have finally retired from UCSF, ready to move to the next phase.

“I will also be continuing to work with my UCSF colleagues to complete work that is under way.

“From talking to colleagues who have already retired, I am confident that there will be more ways that I can keep contributing to fighting the tobacco industry and promoting public health.”

Glantz’s retirement was met with some relief from harm reduction advocates in the US and Europe, including the UK’s Clive Bates, formerly of Action on Smoking and Health.

Bates tweeted: “It should have happened years ago—many lives would have been saved. And much else.”

Glantz spent 45 years in tobacco control at UCSF despite coming from a mechanics background and having no medical training. He initially joined UCSF as a professor of cardiology, using his background on the mathematical modelling of heart tissue.

After rising to prominence by fighting for public smoking bans and advocating for non-smokers’ rights, he turned his attention to vaping, which he perceived as nothing more than the latest scam from the tobacco companies he had campaigned against for decades.

Glantz’s research, comments and prolific tweets have been criticised by experts over the years, most notably a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2019. The research was purported to show that e-cigarettes caused heart attacks.

However, the AHA retracted the study earlier this year after experts issued an appeal showing that Glantz had included subjects who had experienced the heart attacks before they had even started vaping. Glantz criticised the retraction in an extensive blog post, where he took a few less than subtle jibes at Brad Rodu, professor of medicine at the University of Kentucky, Louisville, one of the signatories who called for the study to be retracted. Rodu is an

established harm reduction proponent who has received tobacco industry funding in the past.

Glantz wrote: “I remain puzzled as to why the JAHA did not simply follow [the] normal scientific protocol and publish the Rodu and Abrams letters and allowed us to respond.

“The scientific community could have then considered both their criticisms and our responses and made their own judgment.”

The anti-tobacco and anti-vape crusader has been less critical of the financial motivations of his own department.

In 2019, UCSF’s tobacco control research centre received a fiveyear, $20million grant from the FDA to research the effects of vape products. The grant supported a Stanford study which claimed that vaping was a ‘significant risk factor’ for COVID-19.

Glantz wrote on his blog: “The FDA needs to pay attention to these findings as it considers the premarket approval applications for e-cigarettes that are pouring into its office now.

“These results specifically challenge the FDA’s assumption that e-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes.”

However, much like his AHA study, the findings were questioned by experts in public health, medicine and behavioural science in a peer review article.

The authors stated that the research contained ‘bad data and bad conclusions’ that would lead to ‘bad policy,’ calling the claims that vaping increased COVID-19 risks in young people ‘implausible.’

Criticism of the UCSF researcher did not stop at his controversial research papers, tweets and media appearances.

In 2018, he was accused of sexual harassment by two women, resulting in the university issuing an out-of-court settlement of $150,000. Glantz, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, said at the time: “The decision to settle this case was made by the [University of California] Regents, with my concurrence, that settling the case was preferable to the continuing costs of years of litigation.”

“It should have happened years ago—many lives would have been saved”

WEVAPE, WE Unite

Advocacy group is calling on vapers to secure the future of the industry

Words: Gordon Stribling

It is often said that UK vapers have it pretty good in the grand scheme of things thanks to the laws that regulate e-cigarette products here. Since the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) were brought into law, the industry has largely been left alone, even when workarounds like shortfills threatened to undermine the rules.

But with the TRPR due a review, vape advocacy group WeVape aims to ensure that the UK remains a world-leader in tobacco harm reduction

The campaign is spearheaded by former parliamentary researcher Mark Oates, now of think tank and lobby group, the Adam Smith Institute. A harm reduction advocate and champion of freedom, Mark was instrumental in the successful push for medical cannabis to be legalised in 2018.

“I was very interested in vaping and snus, being a snus user myself. I decided to work on snus to begin with, because no one was really doing that.

“Then I left parliament and decided that, with what’s going on in America, we needed to make sure we push the views of consumers to politicians ahead of the TRPR review. That’s when I thought I’d start this organisation on vaping.”

Mark’s political background has afforded him the credentials to talk with MPs about vaping and the key role it will play if the UK is to reach its smokefree 2030 target.

Despite the hostility coming from America and, more recently Europe, the politicians he has spoken to here have been largely

positive. But some others are unaware of quite how many vapers they have in their communities.

“There’s a few thousand in each constituency. And that’s going to be important when it comes to elections. I do think that there’s always going to be risk, any industry has to be recognised as a risk. It’s an ongoing challenge to make sure we get our voice heard.

“I was saying to Alex Norris, the shadow health minister that in many ways, vapers are a bit like the redwall in politics in that they’re an important demographic that if Labour or the Conservatives are going to win elections, they need to go after this group.”

While WeVape is not a single-issue cause, its short-term focus is on the TRPR consultation review. The regulatory framework that makes the UK’s vape industry the envy of the world is not set in stone. And although Mark is confident that UK politicians remain supportive of vaping as an essential harm reduction measureW, he believes that it’s vital that we do not give in to complacency.

“We want as many voices to be heard, because in the science and technology committee last year, there were only 20 members of the public voting.

“We can’t rest on our laurels. We need to make sure that more than 20 people are reminding the politicians that the story of vaping is not one that’s being spun in the headlines. It’s millions of people improving their health and their lives by moving from smoking to vaping.” At the grassroots level, Mark is keen to talk to people whose lives have been

changed for the better since they switched to vaping. Over time and pandemic-permitting, he hopes to build a library of videos of vapers holding placards explaining the reasons why they switched, such as the flavours and the low cost compared to smoking.

Ultimately, it’s about letting smokers know that there is an alternative out there and busting the myths and hysteria that hold smokers back from switching.

“If smokers are out there thinking that there’s no point switching to vaping, then they’re going to continue to smoke, so we have to inform the public.

“One thing I find sometimes with politicians is that some of them can be very well informed on harm reduction in regards to drugs, sex and alcohol. But for some reason there’s this sudden disconnect with vaping. They don’t see that it’s harm reduction, they think, ‘oh, no, that’s just big, bad tobacco,’ but it’s exactly the same thing.

The continuing threats to the US industry have galvanised the vape community there over the past year or so. And although UK politicians are much more open to vaping here, Mark believes that vapers here need to come together to make sure that the government knows just how important vaping is to the community, not just ahead of the TRPR review and the smokefree 2030 target, but for the health of the nation in generations to come.

To find out how to get involved in WeVape and share your vaping story with your local MP, visit we-vape.org

RAISE YOUR VOICE TO RAISE AWARENESS

As the war on vaping intensifies, the World Vapers’ Alliance aims to help vapers fight back against bans, misinformation and punitive regulation.

Words: Caroline Barry

With so much of the vape industry under threat at the moment, all forms of advocacy are more than welcome. The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) was set up with the aim of connecting vapers across the world. Support is certainly global with partnerships from Kenya, Poland, Croatia and Brazil.

The WVA offer their members a number of benefits and resources that can be used in the fight against negative press, government restrictions and bans. This includes bimonthly newsletters, real time updates on industry developments, access to research and guidelines on how to deal with the media. This is all part of their plan to help vapers raise their voice and combat the misunderstanding around vaping.

Michael Landl took over as WVA Director from founder Paul Meller in August. His vaping activism started after he successfully quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes. “I started smoking when I was 16 and carried on smoking for 12 years even though I knew it was bad. I walked past my local vape shop in Vienna before walking in and buying my first vape device without much thought about it. Within a week, I was vaping and was smoke free so it wasn’t hard to quit.”

As Michael worked in politics, he began to be aware of the proposals for flavour bans, restrictions and the war on vaping which alarmed him. He also noticed it was harder for him to access his supplies so he became involved with advocacy. “I worked in politics and became

aware of all the regulations that were meant to protect us but made it harder for me to stay away from cigarettes. It became harder for me to get access to the products I loved so I became more and more active. I wanted to do something about it and saw how uninformed most of the decision makers were.”

He added: “I was heavily involved in grassroots organisations as a student so I had experience in both politics and protesting. I know how important it is to get this information to the politicians themselves. They read the scary stories in the newspapers which then becomes their opinion and policy. They don’t have time to read 20 scientific papers so it’s vital that vapers raise their voices. This is why we started the ‘Back Vaping, Beat Cancer’ campaign.”

The WVA turned their attention to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and have set up their campaign to call on members of the European Parliament to include vaping in their plan to reduce cancer rates.

Michael said: “When the European Union presented the idea back at the beginning of this year, the idea was to come up with a comprehensive and holistic plan on how to beat cancer. We were very happy that the plan was announced, the consultation went well and the concept of harm reduction was brought up in one of the six submissions which looked promising.

“However the SCHEER Commission, which is the scientific advisory of the European Commission, recently sent out their opinion on

e-cigarettes which went completely the other way. Our goal is to get the European Union to include the concept of harm reduction and to understand that vaping is one of the most effective tools for this. We want them to encourage smokers to quit or switch like other counties have done such as the UK, Canada or New Zealand. We would also like to guarantee free access to vaping products too.”

Despite only officially launching in May, the WVA has welcomed 5,500 individual members and 17 partner organisations from around the globe which represent thousands more vapers. Their seed funding came from the Consumer Choice Centre which is a general consumer advocacy group based in Brussels. This is combined with funding from partner organisations, individual donors and is soon to include sales from merchandise.

Michael says that their main priority is the Back Vaping, Beat Cancer campaign but there are other things to focus on.

“Another big issue is the flavour bans that are popping up around the globe. We have a campaign in the Netherlands which has always been seen as sensible with their regulations. If they go ahead with this, it could have a knock on effect. We are also helping with American organisations who have launched a similar campaign to get harm reduction concepts brought into cancer reduction plans too. There are a lot of things going on and unfortunately, it is a tough battle against all the proposed regulations.”

“Our goal is to get the European Union to include the concept of harm reduction and to understand that vaping is one of the most effective tools for this.”

FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES

Vapor Technology Association launches drive to form “largest vapour advocacy force” in America.

Words: Caroline Barry

The Vapour Technology Association (VTA) has launched a new individual membership program aimed at engaging more vapers and vape advocates with the fight to protect the industry. It hopes to combine the power of businesses and consumers into the strongest vapour advocacy association to defend the right to vape and sell products.

The Washington-based body wants to encourage vapers and activists to get involved by making it easier for their voices to be heard. It also aims to provide information and education.

“This membership will elevate the voices of vapers and those individuals who believe in vaping and engage them in the fight with access to cutting-edge advocacy tools,” said the VTA.

“Now more than ever, we must join together to ensure that vapor products remain available and accessible to all those who rely on them. This is vital for public health and safety.”

Membership costs $25 and will allow vape advocates the opportunity to become part of the VTA’s lobbying efforts, provide up-to-date knowledge on key industry developments, access to advocacy campaigns and help with media communication.

The VTA was established in 2015 to represent retailers, wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers across the US. It has lobbied in Washington D.C and in 40 state capitals to defend vaping. The body also provides training, national conferences and regional workshops aimed at education.

VTA Executive Director Tony Abboud said: “By welcoming Individual members, VTA’s Board has recognized the critical importance of amplifying the millions of voices for vaping – former smokers who have turned to vapor products on their journey to quit smoking – as well as for the business owners who serve them. This new membership will take our unified fight to defend vapor to the next level by combining the power of consumers and businesses into the largest vapor advocacy force in the country.”

Now more than ever, we must ensure that vapor products remain available and accessible to all who rely on them. This is vital for public health and safety

PLAYING THE NAME GAME

Can you tell your UKVIA from your IBVTA or your AVA from your WVA?

If you are confused by any of the above terms, this quick guide will help you.

Words: Caroline Barry

It can be confusing when you first start vaping to know where to go for information on the industry, advocacy and activism. While there are a lot of organisations out there, who does what and how do you get involved?

Here are some of the organisations to know in the UK, US and Europe.

UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA)

What is it: A non-profit organisation where members who are in the vaping industry can join

Where is it: UK

What they do: The UKVIA focus on campaigning for better regulation, establishing confidence in vaping products as a harm reduction alternative and raising awareness of vaping amongst smokers.

Who do they represent: UK manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers,

distributors and compliance service providers.

Director or Chairperson: Director General, John Dunne https://www.ukvia.co.uk/

Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA)

What is it: A non-profit organisation that supports the industry and independent vape businesses.

Where is it: Westminster, England

What they do: The IBVTA promotes the interaction between the scientific community, vapers, policy makers and the general public.

Who do they represent: Independent vape businesses

Director or chairperson: Fraser Cropper, Chairman of IBTVA https://www.ibvta.org.uk/

We Vape

What is it: An independent campaign to help vapers switch from smoking.

Where it is: UK

What they do: We Vape aims to bring vapers together from across the UK so collectively they can help shape public debate on the industry. They also stand up for the rights of adults looking to improve their health by quitting smoking.

Who do they represent: Individual vapers https://we-vape.org/

Vape Business Ireland (VBI)

What is it: The largest vaping trade organisation body in Ireland

Where is it: Dublin, Ireland

What they do: They represent the interests of their members to stakeholders, provide education on vaping as a harm reduction tool and campaign for the Irish government to provide better regulation

Who do they represent: Vape trade https://vapebusinessireland.ie/

Irish Vape Vendors Association (IVVA)

What is it: An association that represents retailers of vaping products across Ireland.

Where is it: Ireland

What they do: The IVVA represents their members in industry matters, help to increase consumer confidence in vaping, acts as advocate for fair and appropriate legislation.

Who do they represent: Independent vape businesses Director or Chairperson: Declan Connelly, Managing Director https://www.ivva.ie/

European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA)

What is it: A platform for consumers of safer nicotine products to exchange information, experiences and initiatives, in support of tobacco harm reduction

Where is it: Europe

What they do: ETHRA aims to promote discussion and the exchange of information and potential actions to reduce exposure to tobacco-related harm. ETHRA offers European advocates a platform for exchanging information and for sharing experiences or local initiatives.

Who do they represent: European vaping advocates https://ethra.co/

Independent European Vaping Alliance (IEVA)

What is it: A European association aimed at uniting national associations, companies, manufacturers and wholesalers in the vaping industry.

Where is it: Europe

What they do: IEVA aims to fight with one voice against local and community regulations, which are not suited to vaping products and their potential in terms of public health and health risk reduction. https://www.eurovape.eu/

World Vaping Alliance (WVA)

What is it: An organisation that amplifies the voice of vapers across the industry across the world

Where is it: Vienna

What they do: The WVA focus on assisting their members to educate, inform and fight the misinformation on vaping. They are focused on their #BackVapingBeatCancer campaign to have vaping be included in the European Beating Cancer plan.

Who do they represent: Vaping advocates and groups across Europe

Director or Chairperson: Director Michael Landl https://www.worldvapersalliance.com/

American Vaping Association (AVA)

What is it: A non profit vaping advocacy group in the US Where is it: Stamford, Connecticut

What they do: The AVA are a vocal vaping organisation arguing for fair policy in America towards vapour products. They work with governmental agencies and health activist groups to educate and provide a balanced perspective on vaping.

Who they represent: Vapers Director or chairperson: President of AVA, Gregory Conley https://vaping.org/

Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives (CASAA)

What is it: A non-profit, all volunteer, grassroots, consumer-led organization.

Where is it: Plattsburgh, New York

What they do: CASAA’s work is dedicated to empowering consumers and representing their interests in various legislative, policy-making and rule-making arenas.

Who they represent: Consumers and advocacy groups http://www.casaa.org/

United Vapers Alliance (UVA)

What is it: A non-profit, pro-vape organisation which aims to highlight the benefits of switching from smoking to vaping and to highlight to politicians how vaping can save lives.

Where is it: US

What they do: UVA plans to educate the US public and politicians on the benefits of vaping in terms of tobacco harm reduction. They promote advocacy online through social media, public events and grassroots activism.

Who do they represent: Vapers and activists https://unitedvapersalliance.org/

PUTTING THE ‘POD’ IN PODCASTING

With 30M+ individual podcast eposides to choose from, vaping is getting a piece of the action

Words: Caroline Barry

Podcasting may have been around since the early 2000s, but it is now more popular than ever with topics ranging from the fun and frivolous to serious debate and information. With more than one million shows and around 30 million episodes out there, it is little wonder that there are podcasts for almost everyone and happily that includes vapers. Celebrities, TV presenters and traditional media outlets are also getting into the podcasting arena. The BBC Podcast reported a 74 percent increase from February to November 2019 with 12 million tuning into That Peter Crouch Podcast. Vaping-related podcasts include many themes such as how e-cigarettes can help smokers quit, tips to mix your own e-liquids, vape culture and much more.

Here is a selection of vape podcasts you may like to check out:

DIY OR DIE PODCAST,

Philadelphia, USA.

DIYorDIE focuses on ‘mixing, news, recipes, tips and research.’ The show began life as a YouTube channel which grew to gain more than 50,000 subscribers and creator Wayne Walker now gets thousands of downloads from a fanbase around the world. He said: “I started the podcast as a reaction to incoming regulations facing the industry, as an outlet for consumer independence and

empowerment. No one was really creating content for DIYer’s at the time, so I figured I could provide that, but in a way that appealed to the regular vaper or ex-smoker.”

Diyordievaping.com

Totally Wicked Vape Podcast, UK

The Totally Wicked Vape Podcast is, of course, made by the Totally Wicked vape retailer. The show is hosted by Rachel Davies and Tim Isherwood, who started with the company in 2015. They were originally based in one of the brand’s stores before the team moved into podcasting. They share tips for new vapers, brand knowledge and, erm, rugby information. The new season launched in July 2020 with a new co-host.

Totallywicked-eliquid.com

Culture of Clouds California/Colorado

Podcast hosts Ruby Roo and GrimmGreen have over 15 years of vaping experience between them as former smokers. They are both actively involved in the vape community with a shared passion for vaping, tobacco harm reduction, beer and cocktails. The podcast is weekly with a library of over 150 episodes to catch up on. Apple podcast, Soundcloud, cultureofclouds.ca

Cotton and Kanthal, Essex and London

A popular podcast dedicated to ‘tearing down this negative nonsense about conflating vaping THC oils and normal e-liquids’ along with vape business, discussion, prank calls and reviews. The hosts, David Mason and Fred Wild also command a 2.33k following on YouTube as part of the Vape + Juice channel.

David said: “Mostly it’s industry based for audio while the video channel attracts more retail. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. For anyone looking to start a podcast, my advice is straight forward – just start. It’s the only way.”

Stitcher, Spotify, Listen notes

Smoke Free Radio Network, Tennessee

Host Dimitri Agrafiotis said: “I’ve done over 270 episodes of the Smoke Free Radio podcast on various platforms and it continues to this day on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spreaker. We reach 5,000 to 10,000 people between all platforms, but we do find that advocacy is not sexy. I could possibly reach 25,000 people if I talk about a new device or a deal, but I think it’s important for people to continue

talking about advocacy.” Smokefreeradio.com, Spreaker, Soundcloud, Stitch

Freakonomics

Freakonomics, Episode 398. November 20, 2019

Freakonomics began life as a book written by New York journalist Stephen J. Dubner and economist Steven D. Levitt. The podcast has an episode on vaping which focuses on the harm reduction potential of vaping and the community. The episode invited Michael Siegel, a physician and professor at Boston University School of Public Health to speak about the harm reduction quality of vaping.

“After studying the issue, it became clear to me that…[vaping] was a much safer product and was helping many people to quit smoking. I think more than anything, what vaping offers to smokers is an identity. You don’t have an identity as a nicotine-patch-user. Nicotine-patch-users don’t get together in groups and have forums and conventions for the weekend, but vapers do.”

https://freakonomics.com/

I think, more than anything, what vaping offers to smokers is an identity.

““

ITV DRAMA DES LEAVES VIEWERS FUMING ABOUT THE SMOKING

While viewers complained about the excessive smoking, the level of complaints shows how we’ve adjusted to smoking bans.

Words : Caroline Barry

Smoking is so widely restricted now that is hard for many to believe just how common and widely-accepted it once was.

The recent three-part ITV drama miniseries Des was difficult to watch for many…not because it told the story of the 1983 arrest of Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen but because of how much smoking was going on.

Des, starring David Tennant as Nilsen, was a huge ratings winner, pulling in around 11 million viewers per episode for the UK network.

TV regulator OFCOM received a number of complaints about just how much smoking was depicted by the drama.

Nilsen, one of the UK’s most notorious criminals, was convicted for the brutal murders of 15 young men and the drama focused on his arrest and subsequent trial.

Both David Tennant and actor Daniel Mays, who played Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay, were almost constantly shown with a cigarette in their hands.

Viewers labelled the smoking as ‘distracting’ and ‘unrealistic’ on social media with some viewers claiming they felt as if they needed to ‘take a shower’ after watching.

Scenes that showed smoking in offices and pubs were once common in England but now, as a result of the 2007 ban, are unheard of.

The show was set in 1983 which was almost 25 years before the smoking ban was introduced.

Back then it was still legal to smoke in public places, cigarette vending machines were still in pubs, and nicotine patches were not

yet available. It was also the same year that the Royal College of Physicians first warned of the dangers of passive smoking.

Those who remembered life before bans also took to social media to defend the smoking scenes as accurate and realistic. @ Rachhunter13 tweeted: “I worked in an open plan office in the 70s and you could hardly see sometimes. I used to smell like an ashtray when I got home -yuk! It was the norm.” @GillCraigie agreed, saying: “I remember starting work in the mid 80s and we were all issued with a pen holder, a letter opener and an ashtray on every desk. At least 50 percent of us smoked.”

Smoking on TV is declining but is still present in shows that aren’t set in a particular era. Researchers from Nottingham University found that ITV’s third series of Love Island delivered 559 million overall tobacco impressions to viewers which included 47 million children. Netflix have recently voiced their commitment to stubbing out smoking on their screens.

However, Netflix seem to be open to vaping on screens as many of their programs in the last year such as Trinkets and Cheer have included vaping scenes.

While it may be impossible to imagine lighting up in the office in 2020, it’s good to see that the times they are changing.

A timeline of smoking and vaping in the UK

1965: British government bans cigarette advertising on television.

1971: Health warnings are to be added to all cigarette packets sold in the UK

1976: Results of a 20-year study of smokers, conclude that one in three dies from the habit.

1983: A report mentions passive smoking for the first time and determines 100,000 die from smoking-related illnesses.

1983: The first reference to vaping is made in a study calling for a two year trial.

1984: Smoking banned on London’s Underground.

1986: Tobacco advertising is banned in cinemas.

1992: First nicotine skin patch available on prescription in the UK.

2000: A pharmacist, Hon Lik, starts work on a vaping device in China.

2001: New EU directive requires larger health warnings on tobacco packaging.

2002: British parliament passes legislation banning tobacco advertising.

2002: British Medical Association asks for a ban on smoking in public places because of the danger to non-smokers.

2004: Ireland introduces the toughest anti-smoking laws in Europe with a complete ban in workplaces.

2004: Hon Lik releases his first device which he has been working on since 2000

2005/6: Vaping starts to become popular in the UK and Ireland.

2006: A ban on smoking in public places, including pubs and restaurants, begins in Scotland on March 26 and the British government announces England will get a smoking ban from July 1, 2007.

2007: England’s smoking ban comes into force on July 1.

2008: The World Health Organization release first statement on safety of e-cigarettes and the FDA label them an ‘unapproved health device.’

2009: Several nations either banned e-cigarettes outright or banned e-cigarettes that included nicotine including Canada, Australia, Panama, Israel, Jordan and Brazil.

2014: The first e-cigarette adverts appear on TV. Also the European Tobacco Products Directive comes into force to place limits on the sale and merchandising of tobacco and tobacco-related products in the EU.

2015: Vapouround Magazine is established.

“I worked in an open plan office in the 70’s and you could hardly see sometimes. I used to smell like an ashtray when I got home.”

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADAFriend or Foe

As more flavour bans and restrictions come into force, is Canada still the vape-friendly country it once was?

Words: Benedict Jones

North America is the single largest consumer of vapour products and when a new industry generates this kind of public awareness, increased scrutiny should always be expected.

For the last few years, all eyes have been on the USA where prohibitive regulatory reform at state and federal level and a political and media-led moral panic about vaping has had a devastating impact on the industry. These factors have seen businesses go to the wall and vapers return to smoking where they have been unable to get the liquids they want to stay away from cigarettes. While the spotlight has very much been on the USA, it is clear that sentiment and legislation has been changing in Canada too. The 2018 Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) was broadly welcomed by the industry as it set clear standards for all vapour products on the market and did not impact flavours. However since then, we have seen a growing number of Canadian provinces introducing their own legislation, with more prohibitive rules. These are some of the changes:

Nova Scotia

Since April all flavoured vapour products have been banned in Nova Scotia and a month later a 20mg/ml cap was placed on the nicotine content of e-liquids. A new tax on vaping came into force on September 15 and Nova Scotia will also be one of the first provinces to require sales permits for vapour products, though enforcement of this policy has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

British Columbia

British Columbia began enforcement of a new set of vaping regulations from September 15, 2020. In many ways, these rules are modelled on the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) which has been in place in the EU since 2016.

The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation enforces plain packaging, a 20mg/ml nicotine cap, limits e-liquid bottles containing nicotine to 30ml, restricts the sale of flavoured products to adult-only retailers and prohibits the advertisement of vapour products where minors are likely to see them.

Ontario

As of July 1, 2020, Ontario has imposed a 20mg/ml nicotine cap on all e-liquids and restricted the sale of flavoured vapour products to speciality retailers, such as vape and cannabis stores. Specialist retailers cannot advertise vapour products in a way that is visible outside the premises and non-specialist retailers are completely prohibited from advertising vapour products.

Prince Edward Island

As of March 2020, P.E.I. increased the age of access for tobacco and vaping products to 21 and restricted the sale of vapour products to specialist retailers, including vape shops and tobacconists. New regulations to ban the sale of flavoured vapour products will come into force on March 1, 2021.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan banned the sale of vapour products to minors as of February 2020, along with restricting the advertising of vapour products by retailers. In September the provincial government began consultation on a new set of regulations to place limits on nicotine content and flavours.

Like the USA, Canada has a complex governmental system, with laws being made at the federal and provincial level.

The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act regulates vaping in a way that offers reassurance to the public about the quality of the products they can buy from legal outlets while also allowing the industry to grow and prosper.

The provincial laws go a lot further and could actually end up doing a lot of harm to the overall harm-reduction potential for the Canadian vape industry.

The British Columbia laws, which seem to broadly mirror the European TPD model, are the least onerous of the provincial regulations and may give vapers little cause for concern.

It is the flavour bans, however, which should set the alarm bells ringing. There is clear evidence that adult smokers are more likely to switch to vaping and stay vaping, when they have a choice of flavours to satisfy their needs.

A survey conducted by the Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Smoke-Free Nova Scotia, published September 18, found that youth vaping had decreased since the coronavirus pandemic began.

However the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hamdani, was quick to downplay the decrease in underage use, citing the closure of vape shops and less socialising during lock down as key factors.

Dr. Al-Hamdani, director of health initiatives at the Lung Association of Nova Scotia said that further policy is needed to reduce vaping among young adults: “To do that we need flavour bans, nicotine caps, taxation and to increase the minimum age to 21.”

When influential researchers such as Dr. Al-Hamdani see a decline in youth vaping but still call for further restrictions, it should concern all vapers, vaping businesses and harm reduction advocates in Canada.

EC REPORT PUTS TPD Under threat

Committee failed to acknowledge relative risks of smoking vs vaping, advocates said

Words: Gordon Stribling

There are few things that unite vapers quite like a shared political cause. In the US, flavour bans and the controversial PMTA process led to protests all over the country as vapers fought to save the one thing that helped them quit smoking. Quite something, given how anti-vape groups labelled all online vape activists as ‘bots’.

Vapers in the UK and EU have until recently faced no such threat. The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) provided a balanced template for national regulators to draw from. But now, a Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SHEER) report puts that under threat.

The SHEER preliminary opinion on e-cigarettes is an important part of the evaluation of TPD2 - the current version of the Tobacco Products Directive. The review, set to be complete by May 20, 2021,

could form the basis of a new version of the directive - one potentially far less favourable to vaping.

So what are the main takeaways from the report?

EVIDENCE OF HEALTH RISKS

- The weight of evidence for respiratory tract risk is moderate, cardiovascular risk is strong and cancer risk to the respiratory tract is weak to moderate;

- Weight of evidence for poisoning and burn injuries from explosions is strong but incidence is low

- There’s no evidence that flavours used in EU-regulated e-liquids cause harm to health (but flavours ‘may enhance attractiveness’) Weight of evidence supporting health risks to bystanders is weak to moderate.

THE ‘GATEWAY EFFECT’ AND SMOKING CESSATION

- There is strong evidence that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking among young people and the flavours and nicotine make e-cigarettes more attractive and addictive to this group

- There is weak evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers quit and weak to moderate evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers cut down

- The conclusions have unsurprisingly been blah from experts in the vaping and tobacco harm reduction community.

Former Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) director Clive Bates published a comprehensive review in his blog, Counterfactual.

As well as writing that report ‘overstated’ the risks of ‘passive vaping’, misrepresented the uncertainty of long-term risks and ‘ignored or selectively interpreted’ the evidence, Bates argued that the authors missed the most important thing of all - comparing e-cigarettes to combustible cigarettes.

He said: “Electronic cigarettes are primarily used as alternatives to smoking and their health impact when used [as] a substitute for cigarettes is highly beneficial, involving large decreases in exposures to toxicants.

“So, it is inexplicable that e-cigarette risks are not positioned relative to cigarettes. This essential information about relative risk is absent throughout the whole assessment, yet it is the central public health proposition offered by e-cigarettes.”

Bates also noted that SHEER’s understanding of how and why smokers use e-cigarettes was out of step with the evidence.

Firstly, he cited numerous studies which have shown that e-cigarettes are far more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) at helping smokers quit.

However, the report failed to take into account those smokers who had switched to vaping and continued to vape in the long term without relapsing to tobacco.

Bates stated that e-cigarettes were not just a stop-smoking aid like nicotine patches and gum - they were a less harmful ‘rival proposition’ to smoking.

“SCHEER should have avoided simplistic analogies with smoking cessation treatments and recognise that the emergence of e-cigarettes and other reduced-risk products are a pervasive technology diffusion and disruption in a market dominated until now by a very dangerous product.”

On October 12, Consumer group European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) launched a survey in collaboration with 22 consumer groups calling on vapers to submit their comments for the public consultation which ended in October.

A spokesperson for ETHRA said: “Possible bans on flavourings, taxes on vaping or the revision of container limits, atomisers and nicotine levels in vaping liquids, as well as the legalisation of snus, are issues that may concern tens of millions of Europeans.”

“We are concerned by the report and fear it will be used to argue for harsher restrictions in the EU TPD, including e-liquid flavour bans.”

REMEMBER ‘EVALI’? REMEMBER ‘EVALI’?

A look back on a plague-addled year that put vaping health scares into perspective

Words:

Gordon Stribling

In 2019, it was ‘EVALI’ – an ‘epidemic’ of vaping-related lung inju ries that further weaponised the anti-vaping argument in the US. The year 2020 may have given a sense of perspective to some of vaping’s detractors as a genuine epidemiological threat swept the world.

Here’s how the year unfolded.

CORONAVIRUS RUMBLINGS

The first reports of a ‘mystery respiratory illness’ discovered in Wuhan, China, begin to circulate in the British press.

Vape industry hub Shenzhen would later go under lockdown, slowing the global industry to a halt.

The FDA formally bans the sale of flavoured pods implicated in the ‘youth vaping epidemic’. Only tobacco and menthol flavours remain on the shelves, hitting the pockets of JUUL and its competitors hard.

WHO VAPING ADVICE CRITICISED BY EXPERTS

Experts from the UK’s public health community roundly condemn advice given by the World Health Organization (WHO) Q&A.

In claiming that e-cigarettes cause lung damage, the WHOs cites 2019s EVALI outbreak. However, the CDC is no longer linking the EVALI lung injuries and deaths to nicotine vape products.

FEBRUARY

ITV SCREENS ‘HOW SAFE IS YOUR VAPE?’ DOCUMENTARY

Vapers are outraged after an ITV documentary cites discredited studies and US statistics to paint vaping in a negative light.

Vapouround MD, Paul Caplin, says: “It’s embarrassing and frankly outrageous that ITV would go after vaping, given the devastating toll tobacco continues to play on our society.”

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RETRACTS HEART ATTACK PAPER

After analysing data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH), the authors concluded that ‘e-cigarette use is an independent risk factor for having had a myocardial infarction.’

However, analysis included former smokers who had had heart attacks before they started vaping.

The study was co-authored by long time vaping adversary Stanton Glantz who would retire later in the year.

WHITE HOUSE OPPOSES FLAVOUR BAN

President Trump is urged to veto a bill that includes provisions to ban all e-liquid flavours and online sales.

The letter from the Executive Office of the President cites the harm-reduction of e-cigarettes and the lack of evidence supporting a menthol e-liquid ban among its concerns.

PHE REPORT REVEALS PEOPLE SCARED TO TAKE UP VAPING

Over half of UK smokers believe that vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking, according to a Public Health England (PHE) report.

The mistaken belief that e-cigarettes were more harmful increased during the US lung injury outbreak in Autumn 2019.

PHE calls for continued monitoring of public perceptions, concerned that misplaced fears about safety will cost lives.

VAPE SHOPS CLOSED FOR LOCKDOWN

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) writes to the English, Scottish and Welsh governments to ask them to keep vape shops open during the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation periods.

It follows similar successful lobbying by Dr Riccardo Polosa in Italy. The campaign is ultimately unsuccessful.

NETFLIX RELEASES BROKEN: BIG VAPE DOCUMENTARY

The second vape documentary of 2020 proves to be a lot more balanced than the first.

Vapouround Magazine covered the story like this: “‘Broken: Big Vape’ is about as balanced a documentary as we can feasibly expect from a mainstream platform like Netflix and it does a good job of highlighting the amazing potential of open vapour products, while covering concerns about youth use and corporate co-opting of an independent driven industry.”

COURT PUSHES BACK PMTA DEADLINE

Vape companies are granted an additional four months to submit their products for review.

A federal court accepted the request to push back the deadline, originally marked as May 12, to September 9, following delays caused by the coronavirus.

WELSH DOCTORS ANNOUNCE NICOTINE PATCH COVID TRIAL

Doctors in Wales announce plans to trial nicotine patches to combat coronavirus following reports that smokers may be at a lower risk of catching COVID-19.

Fierce debate over the potential protective benefits of nicotine rage on over the next few months.

WORLD VAPE DAY

World Vape Day falls on May 30, the day before World No Tobacco Day and aims to raise awareness of the devices to smokers who are struggling to quit.

AUSSIE IMPORT BAN

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration announces a ban on the import of nicotine for use in e-cigarettes. This has been the only way for Australians to legally vape in the country.

The ban is later extended until January 1, 2021.

SMOORE LISTED ON HONG KONG STOCK EXCHANGE

Smoore International is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange following a hugely successful initial public offering (IPO).

This is the first listing of an electronic atomization technology company on the Hong Kong market

VOXPO DEBUTS

After many months of planning, the inaugural virtual vape event takes place, attracting thousands of visitors from 82 countries.

PMTA DEADLINE HITS

Vape companies around the world scramble to get their PMTAs in for the September 9 deadline.

US vapers continue to protest the PMTA process in the days before the deadline hits.

Dimitris Agrafiotis, executive director of the Tennessee Smoke-Free Association (TSFA), says: “Now, it is up to President Trump to stop the FDA from destroying 99 percent of the industry and leaving 160,000 Americans unemployed in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

US YOUTH VAPING DECLINE

Data from the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) finds that US vaping is on the decline.

Current use (at least once in the past 30 days) among high school students dropped by almost a third, from 27.5 percent in 2019 to 19.6 percent in 2020.

Meanwhile, current use among middle school students more than halved over the same period.

STUDY REVEALS US DOCTOR NICOTINE MISUNDERSTANDING

An alarming survey reveals that a staggering 80 percent of doctors incorrectly believe that nicotine causes cancer while 83 percent believe that it is linked to heart disease.

TGA ANNOUNCES VAPE PRESCRIPTION PLAN

Under the new scheme, Australian vapers would need to be granted a prescription by their doctor and then purchase products from a pharmacy if they wish to vape nicotine.

The annual Stoptober campaign once again encourages smokers to quit however they can, including vaping.

This year’s campaign is focused on the benefits of being smoke-free during a COVID-ravaged winter.

MPS CONCERNED BY VAPING DECLINE

British MPs have expressed their concern that e-cigarette use has fallen year-on-year for the first time.

According to a recent Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) report, 6.3 percent of the population are vaping regularly, compared to 7.1 percent over the same period in 2019.

Meanwhile, there are still 6.9 million smokers in the UK.

VAPING IS A GATEWAY OUT OF SMOKING, STUDY FINDS

E-cigarettes help adults quit smoking and are not a gateway to tobacco for non-smokers, a study finds.

The report, from the World Vapers’ Alliance and the Consumer Choice Centre, also finds that youth smoking rates are at an all-time low.

VAPE SHOPS DEEMED NON-ESSENTIAL YET AGAIN IN SECOND NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

UKVIA director general John Dunne argues that the decision is at odds with Public Health England’s acknowledgement earlier this year that vaping plays a key role in helping smokers stay free of tobacco.

VAPOUROUND AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of the first virtual Vapouround Awards are revealed on day two of Vape Live USA.

The awards attract thousands of votes from all around the world.

VAPING INCREASES INDOOR COVID-19 TRANSMISSION RISK BY JUST ONE PERCENT

Vaping increases the risk of transmitting COVID-19 by just one percent, a study finds.

The researchers found that six minutes per hour of speaking increased the transmission risk by 44 percent while coughing increased the risk by more than 260 percent.

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VAPOUROUND REVIEWS Hardware E-Liquids

Please note: All hardware and e-liquids are reviewed by external reviewers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Vapouround Magazine. All e-liquids are reviewed at 3mg nicotine level. Hardware reviews are rated on specific criteria depending on the style of products received.

Dimensions: 125mm*35.3mm*25mm

Materials: Zinc alloy, aluminium, polycarbonate

Battery capacity: 1x 21700/20700/18650 external cell

E-liquid capacity: 6.5ml/2ml (TPD edition)

Power output: 7W-95W Charging: 1.2A USB-C charging

TESLACIGS T-REX

By Benedict Jones

When I think about Teslacigs, my mind is immediately drawn to bulky box mods with huge power ceilings and outlandish finishes. For a while they’ve resisted getting on board with the AIO trend that has dominated the hardware market this year, but they’re finally throwing their hat in the ring with the T-Rex.

Construction, fit and finish of the T-Rex are mostly good. The chassis is made from a mix of aluminium and zinc alloys, giving it a nice balance of weight and sturdiness. The pod section is held in place by four sets of magnets, which results in a snappy connection that doesn’t budge unless you want it to. Finishing is well done from top to bottom, with a classy matte texture. The airflow controller, while simple and functional, is a little too loose so it can be accidentally adjusted with even a light touch. Secondly, the battery door is perfectly serviceable but rather thin and I worry that it won’t hold up well to any drops onto hard surfaces. The airflow issue should be simple enough to fix for final production units, and I would like to see this addressed.

In terms of user experience, Teslacigs has kept things simple, whilst offering some user customisation. The re-fill design is new to me and has been well executed. Depress and turn the large duckbill mouthpiece to reveal a generous fill port that accommodates even the largest bottles. I was concerned that this design might lead to condensation or leaking but this has not been an issue during my testing. Five clicks of the fire button/dial powers the device on/ off. When powered up, three clicks of the fire button enters the menu. From here, scrolling the dial allows you to lock the power, change output modes, change activation modes, customise the UI colour and clear the puff counter. Everything here is presented intuitively and Teslacigs hasn’t packed in loads of complicated or unnecessary features that can be off-putting to less experienced vapers. Surprisingly for a device of its size, the T-Rex offers draw activation, along with manual firing. I found this option to be functional, though ramp up times are slower, so I simply deactivate the feature. This may be a nice addition for those who are transitioning from entry level pod kits, though. The device is supplied with two coils as standard. The first is a 0.3Ohm mesh coil, rated for 30W-40W. Unfortunately, it seemed as though I received a dud coil in this case, since I

was unable to get it to properly saturate with e-liquid and it simply would not vape in the recommended range without producing a dry hit.

The second coil is a 0.16Ohm mesh build, rated for 30W-50W. This was a much better example of what Teslacigs is capable of. I personally found this coil to perform best at 45W, with one airflow slot open. With these settings, it provides excellent flavour and warmth, with good vapour production and silky smooth airflow. Coil longevity was impressive too, lasting for more than 50mls of moderately sweet e-liquid before needing to be replaced. This is a large AIO coil, in keeping with things like the Voopoo PnP range and it certainly competes in that space well. In addition to Teslacigs’ own range of coils, the T-Rex is also compatible with all Voopoo PnP coils that I had to hand, which is good to know, since it opens up lots of options, including MTL coils and RBA bases. Voopoo’s PnP range are also widely available and supported by retailers, so you won’t have to worry about finding replacement coils in a pinch.

Battery life will depend on your choice of external cell, coil and power output. I tested the device with a 4200mAh Molicel P42A and was impressed with the battery management. Vaping the 0.16Ohm coil at 45W, I was consistently able to get a full day’s vaping time from the device, which is fantastic. 1.2A charging is nice to have, though I always recommend using a dedicated external charger for any external cells. In summary, the Teslacigs T-Rex is a compelling option for those who want an AIO that can maintain higher wattages. 21700 capability, a userfriendly chipset, Voopoo Pnp compatibility and a relatively compact size make this a good option for power users. If Teslacigs can iron out some of the flaws and improve coil QC, this could be the best enthusiast AIO on the market.

PROS

- 21700 compatible

- User-friendly chipset

- Convenient refill system

- Voopoo PnP compatible

CONS

- Airflow controller a little loose

- One of the provided coils was a dud

specifications

Dimensions: 130mm*26.7mm*19.3mm

Battery capacity: 830mAh internal cell

E-liquid capacity: 1.3ml

Charging: 0.5A USB-C charging

HYBRID

By Benedict Jones

We haven’t seen many pre-filled pod systems released in 2020, with open systems dominating the hardware market. If you want to break through in the pre-filled category, you have to try something different and this is certainly the case with the Edge Hybrid, which is one of the first vapour products to use cigarette-style filters as a mouthpiece. Construction, fit and finish of the Edge Hybrid are fair. It’s clear that Edge have prioritised a low overall weight and this has been achieved with a chassis that’s primarily constructed from polycarbonate with a matte finish and tight tolerances which make the device both look and feel quite slick. In terms of user experience, the Edge Hybrid is very simple but does have a unique quirk. The back panel slides down before being removed, revealing a space to clip in your chosen pre-filled pod. The top of the device, where you might normally install a drip tip, instead allows you to insert a “Hybrid Filter” which looks and feels just like the filter of a pre-rolled cigarette. A more standard drip tip is also supplied, for those who are trying to move away from the cigarette experience altogether.

Pods clip in quite firmly but are also easily removed due to the side tabs, which allow for plenty of purchase. LEDs on the front panel provide three levels of battery feedback, which is plenty for a 830mAh cell device. That’s about it for functionality and I’m happy to see things have been kept so simple for a product clearly aimed at transitioning smokers.

The “Hybrid Filter” option does change the vaping experience a lot. Once installed, the filter can either be left as is, or clicked to release a menthol flavour, in a similar fashion to many cigarettes. With the filter installed, airflow is restricted substantially and I can’t deny that it provides a startlingly familiar experience to smoking a cigarette. Whether this is the airflow or the feeling of a filter tip itself, I’m not sure but it’s certainly something that will appeal to stubborn smokers who want their vape experience to be as close to smoking as possible.

The Hybrid Filter significantly mutes the flavour produced by the pods as the vapour has to travel through so much material. It also appears to reduce the warmth and throat hit of the vapour and while these attributes are likely desirable in the context of a cigarette, to me this is not the case with

vaping. Fortunately, a standard drip tip is also supplied with the kit and installing this negates any of the downsides I’ve listed when using a filter. The airflow is opened a little when using the standard drip tip but it’s still a smooth, moderate MTL draw. For anyone already used to vaping, this is likely the better option.

I found the 830mAh internal cell to perform admirably during testing. When using the 18mg/ml pre-filled pods, I was able to consistently achieve just shy of a full day’s vaping on a charge. The device charges from flat to full in just over an hour, which is acceptable given the run time but still a little slow for such a small battery.

At the time of writing, there are three flavours available for the Edge Hybrid. Here is a brief summary of my thoughts on them: British Tobacco: A sweet, nutty tobacco, with mild hints of brown sugar and subtle smoky finish. This isn’t overly dark or in your face and likely a good starting point for transitioning smokers.

Blackcurrant: A mild, soda-style blackcurrant. It has some sweetness and subtle tartness on the finish but overall, this flavour feels a little muted to me and could do with extra vibrance.

Very Menthol: The strongest of the current line-up. Plenty of sweet peppermint here, with a significant icy mentholated finish. A basic, but enjoyable, menthol blend.

In summary, the Edge Hybrid is an interesting concept and I’m intrigued to see how its developed over time. The device is simple to use and has a good run time, with a pleasant MTL draw and good warmth when using the standard drip tip. When using a Hybrid Filter, it manages to emulate smoking quite well, though it does impede flavour production and warmth. I feel that this device could be a great option for transitioning smokers, though additional flavour options would be good.

PROS

- User-friendly

- Hybrid Filter concept may appeal to smokers

CONS

- Limited flavour options at launch

specifications

Materials: Stainless steel, PCTG

Diameter: 24mm base, 26mm at widest point Height: 46.5mm

E-liquid capacity: 2ml (TPD edition)

By Benedict Jones

RTA

Voopoo surprised many enthusiasts when it announced the RTA Pod. Despite being a company that built its brand on high wattage box mods, it has never focused on other enthusiast products, such as RDAs and RTAs. How does it fare in such a competitive space?

Construction, fit and finish of the RTA Pod are good. The base of the RTA Pod is identical to the PnP tank, with heavy stainless-steel construction and two massive airflow inlets. The pod section is where things start to differ, with additional stainless-steel hardware and a large chimney that occupies much of the room inside. Just like the PnP tank, the RTA Pod’s top section is magnetic, with snappy magnets that provide just the right amount of hold.

Unthreading the bottom section of the pod reveals the deck and inside of the chamber. Machining here is good on the whole, with no visible flaws or issues with threading. The overall finishing competes with other affordable RTAs, so no complaints there.

It’s clear that the RTA Pod was designed with those who are new to rebuildables in mind. The single coil deck is optimised well for less experienced vapers, with plenty of room and convenient top down grub screw posts to secure leads with ease. I found the grub screws to get a good purchase on any build from 24g round wire, all the way up to standard Aliens and I think that’s a good range of options for any new builder.

My only gripe with the posts is the size of the grub screws. They’re not particularly hard to work with but they are small. It would have been more convenient to use a larger flathead screw that doesn’t require such a specific size of tool.

The wicking design is also simple, with large wicking ports. Cutting the ends of the wick so that they’re just long enough to poke through the ports has worked well for me throughout testing. Normally I would thin out the edges of the cotton, but these ports are quite large, so this hasn’t been necessary when using a 3mm inner diameter coil. The airflow design is the main thing that leaves something

to be desired. The airflow flows under the coil from a massive rectangle inlet. In the context of a large dual coil atomiser, this might make sense but when dealing with a compact single coil tank, it’s odd.

The large inlet causes more noise than I would like, along with some turbulence. This could be improved by adding a honeycomb design, or even reducing the overall size of the inlet to something more reasonable. Closing down the airflow ring reduces total airflow, though I have to close it to about ¼ to create my preferred draw.

Due to the airflow design, I’ve found that larger complex coils work best in the RTA Pod. After testing a variety of builds, a three core 28g Alien coil with 36g outer wraps provided the best balance of flavour, heat and noise at 50W, with the airflow closed to 1/4. With these parameters, the RTA pod produces good flavour and warmth, though it doesn’t quite match top tier single coil atomisers like the QP Gata.

In summary, the RTA Pod has a lot of promise, but it needs further refinement to truly compete at the top level. Build quality is good and it offers a convenient build deck, but the airflow design requires optimisation to increase flavour production and reduce turbulence.

PROS

CONS

- Airflow design is unrefined

ODB TRIGGER

By Benedict Jones

Mechanical mods may be seen as a relic of vaping history by some, but for enthusiasts, the raw performance and simplicity continues to drive appeal. Of course, in 2020, mech fans expect top quality, especially from a premium product, so does the ODB Trigger deliver?

Construction, fit and finish of the Trigger are virtually flawless (more on that later). Machining is beautiful throughout, with buttery smooth threads on both ends and a sleek utilitarian look. Our review unit is the black cerakote variant and the finish is excellent, holding up perfectly after several weeks of intensive use. The mod is extremely smooth to the touch, with no sharp edges in sight. Small details, like “You’ve lost the game” engraved around the hybrid connection and ODB logo elements used as venting on the side are nice touches that have been executed well.

I did say virtually flawless and I’ll address this now. Out of the box, my silver spring was faulty and unfortunately was shedding material. After contacting ODB, a replacement (along with some ODB battery wraps) was with me in two days. This is important because when you pay a premium for a quality UK-made product, you also get quality service.

I know for a fact that if any regular customer had the same issue I did, they would be treated in exactly the same way. This kind of aftercare has always made premium devices worthwhile in my eyes.

On to maintenance and the switch. Many recent mech mods overcomplicate the switch, with intricate constant contact designs. I’m happy to report that ODB has kept things very simple, with an elegant design.

When you want to disassemble the switch for cleaning or maintenance, simply remove the switch assembly from the housing, then press the switch. This pushes the copper contact out. Once you’ve done this, press the switch and turn it to align the triangle contact with the open position. That’s it, switch fully disassembled.

Since the switch is so easy to tear down, regular cleaning is much less of a chore, which is great. Due to the constant contact design, I found that arcing build up was minimal,

Battery capacity: 1x21700 external cell Materials: CZ112 Brass, copper, silver Switch style: Bottom firing constant contact

even after a week’s heavy use. All the same, I like to do a full clean of my mechs once a week when I use them in order to maintain full performance.

What about performance then? Like most modern mechanical mods, the ODB Trigger is 21700 compatible. I performed all of my testing with a Molicel P42A, which is my preferred cell of this specification, owing to its 4200mAh capacity and 30A max discharge, plenty for low builds and higher run time.

The Trigger passed all of my tests with flying colours and handily competes with my hardest-hitting mechs, including the Nameless Mods Unknown and the AMC Haka. After a few initial presses, the switch gives me a consistently smooth action, with a medium throw, which suits my preferences. When I’m using a mech mod, it’s normally paired with a dual coil RDA at 0.15Ohms, or an MTL RTA at around 0.9Ohms. At both ends of the spectrum, I was thoroughly pleased with the power delivery this device is capable of.

In summary, the ODB Trigger is a rock solid mech mod. Machining is beautiful, with an understated design and relatively compact footprint. Switch assembly is simple but delivers on performance and the customer service experience is excellent too, should you run into any issues.

If you’re in the market for a premium UK-made mech, the Trigger is an excellent option.

PROS

ADVKEN POTENTO POD

By Benedict Jones

Advken has always been an eclectic company, catering to hobbyists and new vapers alike, with a broad range of products. They’ve also become known for trying new ideas and were one of the first brands to design a topairflow subtank, among other things which have since become normal in vaping hardware. The Potento Pod is an interesting concept; a pod system with a potentiometer that allows the user to adjust power output. Is it worth checking out?

Construction, fit and finish of the Potento Pod are fair. With an affordable price point, you can’t expect this device to pack in lots of premium materials but what we do have is nicely put together. The aluminium chassis is extremely light but avoids feeling cheap, due to a lack of seams and textured finish. Pods clip into place easily enough and hold in place well during use, without any play. The potentiometer, located at the bottom of the battery portion, has a good level of resistance and won’t move around unless you want it to.

In terms of user experience, the Potento Pod keeps things simple but still provides some level of user adjustment. A single button towards the bottom of the battery powers the device on/off with five clicks and although the device is draw to fire only, I am always happy to see an on/off function on draw-activated pods.

An LED provides two levels of battery feedback, which is acceptable for a 580mAh internal cell device like this one. A sealed fill port is located on the side of each pod. At times, I found it a little tricky to remove the seal for re-fills, so I would like to see this design improved with an indent for the fingernail to get some purchase. The fill port itself is fine for small bottles but larger bottles are a no go.

The landmark feature of the Potento Pod is its potentiometer. Truth be told, I thought this would be a gimmick but in practice I’ve been quite surprised by its implementation. The dial allows you to adjust the voltage from 3.2V at the lowest setting, all the way up to 4.2V at the highest. With the currently available 1.2Ohm pods, that translates to a range of 8.5W-14.7W, which is substantial for the miniature mesh

specifications

Dimensions: 121mm*22.8mm*12mm

Materials: Aluminium alloy, PCTG

Battery capacity: 580mAh E-liquid capacity: 2.5ml/2ml (TPD edition) Power output: 3.2V-4.2V (8.5W-14.7W) potentiometer Charging: 0.8A USB-C charging Weight: 33g

coil being used. Though specific voltages are not marked on the dial, a numerical range of I-IV is, which makes things clear enough.

In terms of performance, I’ve been quite impressed. The 1.2Ohm pods have a quiet, smooth, moderately restricted MTL draw. At the lowest voltage setting, the vape is understandably cool but still produces decent flavour. I see this as being a good setting for the super high strength nicotine salts which are popular outside the EU. Between settings II and III, the vape heats up noticeably, with increasing flavour production. At the highest setting, IV, the Potento Pod produces a very warm MTL vape, though I wasn’t able to notice any increase in flavour compared with III. This is quite impressive, essentially going toe-to-toe with some of the best pod systems on the market.

Pod longevity is about average, lasting for approximately 20mls of moderately sweet e-liquid before a replacement was required each time.

Battery life will largely depend on your choice of power output. I was able to easily get a full day’s vaping when using the lowest setting, with a high strength nicotine salt e-liquid. This reduces to around half a day when hovering between the II and III settings. At the highest power setting, I was able to get approximately three hours vape time on a charge. The device charges from flat to full in approximately 35 minutes, which is good considering the run time.

In summary, I think the Potento Pod is a solid, if slightly gimmicky device. It’s built decently, user friendly and provides a good level of adjustment for new vapers. I would like to see the re-fill system improved for future batches of pods though.

PROS

- Good vape quality

- Noticeable power adjustment

- User-friendly

CONS

- Refill system could be improved

By Benedict Jones

specifications

Specifications:

Dimensions: 62.2mm*12.1mm

Battery capacity: 550mAh internal cell

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

Power output: 10W constant

Charging: Micro-USB Weight: 75g

Freemax are mostly known for their enthusiast offerings, with some of the best-rated power-hungry subohm tanks and sturdy box mods on the market. The Maxpod Circle is a bit unusual for them, then, and it comes as part of the Maxpod line of entry level kits that they’ve released in 2020.

Construction, fit and finish of the Maxpod Circle are good. Coming in at 75g, this device feels quite robust considering its small size. The chassis is constructed from an unspecified metal but the weight and rigidity suggest zinc alloy. The re-fillable pod is made from PCTG, which means you shouldn’t have to worry about traditional “tank cracker” flavours, such as cinnamon or citrus.

The pod section is held in place by two sets of magnets, which provide a good level of hold and result in no play when in use. Overall, this is a well-constructed device considering its price point and entry level target audience.

In terms of user experience, the Maxpod Circle is as simple as open systems get. A single button on the side of the device acts as a fire button and also powers the device on/off with five clicks. When powered up, the device also features draw-to-fire activation, a trait popular in pod systems like this.

A seal on the side of the pod section covers a decently large fill port, which accommodates most standard sized bottles. Despite the unusual pod shape, I found that I was able to fill rapidly without any issue.

Freemax has built a solid reputation for mesh coils and this translates nicely to the Maxpod Circle. At the time of writing, only 1.5Ohm mesh pods are available for the device. They provide slightly more restricted airflow compared to most pod systems on the market, resulting in a smooth, quiet moderate MTL draw.

Power output is kept at a constant 10W throughout the charge cycle of the battery, which results in a consistent vape experience. This output, paired with the high resistance coil, results in a good balance of flavour and warmth, though it’s a little cool for my preference. Since the power output is fixed and vapour production is relatively low, this device is

suited to high nicotine e-liquids and that’s what I suggest using if this will be your primary nicotine delivery device. Overall, the Maxpod Circle provides good vape quality for a device of its class but isn’t mind blowing.

Pod longevity is about what I’d expect from any decent pod system, lasting for approximately 25mls of moderately sweet e-liquid before a replacement was required.

Due to the fixed output, battery life will mostly depend on your vaping habits and choice of nicotine strength. I found that when using a 20mg/ml nicotine salt blend, I was able to get just over half a day’s vaping time on a charge. This dropped to only a few hours when I switched to a 10mg/ml blend. The device charges from flat to full in approximately 45 minutes, so I think this is acceptable, given that its designed to be a small, discrete pod system.

In summary, the Freemax Maxpod Circle is a solid stealth device with good build quality, nice vape quality and limited battery life, which is to be expected. I see it as a good supplementary option which can be kept in a small pocket but the battery life makes it less practical to use as a sole device.

FEELM POD SYSTEM

By Benedict Jones

FEELM products are always interesting to cover, since they’re usually a proof of concept, showing off the latest coil technology, rather than a specific model that will be sold to the public. This is the case with their latest round of samples, showcasing a new ceramic “bowl” coil and antileaking technology. These components will be making their way into many big-name pod systems in the near future, so how do they perform?

Construction, fit and finish of the newest FEELM sample are great. The aluminium alloy unit that’s been sent to us has a unibody chassis, with no visible seams. This allows the device to maintain a super low weight, without sacrificing structural integrity, meaning it will stand up to drops and day-to-day abuse handily.

Pods snap into place firmly with a strong magnetised connection and there is zero play when in use. Tolerances are extremely precise, to the point that just removing and installing the pod feels like a feat of engineering. A small haptic motor in the chassis is activated whenever a pod is installed, telling you that a proper connection has been made. These are tiny details but they’ve been executed with class.

As with all previous FEELM devices, the new tech is a super simple user experience. The device is draw activated, with no buttons or menus to contend with. An LED on the front of the device will blink once charge begins to deplete and while I would prefer more feedback, it’s not essential with a 350mAh internal cell device like this.

Since all current FEELM devices are pre-filled, you don’t need to worry about changing coils or wrestling with fill ports. One of the new sample’s claims to fame is improved anti-leaking design. Leaking and condensation have long been a pitfall of pre-filled products. I’m happy to report that FEELM has nailed this. I removed all three pods from their packaging when they arrived and left them to sit upright for several days to check for any seepage. All three pods passed this test with flying colours, not wasting a drop of e-liquid.

Dimensions: 106mm*20mm*10.8mm

Materials: Aluminium alloy, ceramic, polycarbonate Battery capacity: 350mAh internal cell E-liquid capacity: 2ml pre-filled pods

Charging: USB-C

What about vape quality? FEELM claim to have improved this too, with a combination of honeycomb airflow and new ceramic “bowl” coil. I concur with FEELM’s engineers here. The airflow is extraordinarily smooth and quiet, with a restricted MTL draw. Flavour and throat hit are excellent too, producing clean flavour throughout the life of each pod, with a satisfying throat hit on both the 10mg/ml and 20mg/ml pods I sampled. I’m happy to say that this is the best vape quality of any pre-filled pod system on the market today.

It’s clear that FEELM has put a lot of work into emulating the experience of a cigarette. The combination of a super smooth draw, restricted MTL and sharp throat hit makes for an uncanny experience, especially when using a menthol pod. This is a key factor in pre-filled pods, which are primarily used by transitioning smokers.

In summary, I’m thoroughly impressed with FEELM’s latest round of upgrades. Vape quality has been improved across the board, along with total elimination of leaking, as far as I can tell. This technology is improving rapidly and now as a hobbyist vaper, who uses open systems, I can’t help but wonder when a re-fillable device with FEELM tech will be made available to consumers. A great choice for new vapers who require a pre-filled experience.

PROS

Grape Concord

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 3% at 70/30

Concord grape is most commonly associated with the grape flavoured candy popular in the U.S. As a result, I was expecting a heavily candied, tart flavouring here. That’s not the case. Though Grape Concord does offer some mild candy notes, this mostly comes across as an authentic red grape, with a juicy mouthfeel, rich sweetness and slightly bitter finish. There are some pleasant floral elements to this concentrate, too. If you’re looking for a realistic red grape, this is a fantastic option.

Grape White

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 3% at 70/30

As popular as grape flavourings are in vaping, white grape specifically is quite uncommon. Flavour Art’s offering leans heavily towards an authentic portrayal. The main feature is a bright sweetness and juicy mouthfeel, which begins to emulate sparkling wine at higher percentages. There is some tartness on the finish but not enough to push this flavouring into candied territory. This is a light, refreshing grape concentrate, that plays nicely with other fruits and makes a fantastic pairing with Grape Concord in equal parts.

Blackberry

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 1.5% at 70/30

Blackberry is a notoriously hard flavour to reproduce. How does Flavour Art’s offering fare? Immediately in my testing, it became clear that this is a very potent flavouring. At just 1.5% in a mix, Blackberry packs a serious punch, with rich dark sweetness and a wave of floral notes that linger for a while after vaping. While authentic, I feel that this concentrate is best used as an accent, at low concentration in a fruity mix, to add some floral notes. Proceed with caution because this could quickly overpower other flavourings.

Catalan Cream

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 2% at 70/30

Catalan Cream takes after the Spanish dessert of the same name, which is traditionally a blend of vanilla, cream, caramel and spices. For me, moderate spice and citrus are the main notes. After some steeping time, they calm down a little but straight off the mix, they dominate. This is supported by milder notes of vanilla and dairy. Due to the heavier spice and citrus notes here, I think Catalan Cream is best used as a starting point for a spiced fruit dessert, with help from other flavourings, like Flavour Art Custard Premium and Cookie coming in to provide additional sweetness and volume.

Pomegranate

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 2% at 70/30

Pomegranate is rarely used as the main part of a profile and that’s likely due to a lack of super authentic flavourings. Flavour Art’s Pomegranate is a great example of how they’ve cemented themselves as the market leaders for accurate fruit concentrates. This flavouring is packed with sharp, almost tannic, citrus notes, along with moderate juicy mouthfeel and a sweet tropical fruit finish. This is a potent flavouring that pairs nicely with tropical fruits and is great for adding some sharpness to a dull mix.

Doozy Tropix – Fiji

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Fiji is described as a blend of Fuji apple, melon and cucumber. Crisp, bright red apple is the most prominent part of this mix. Though it has plenty of sweetness, its juicy mouthfeel makes it much more reminiscent of the real fruit than a candied portrayal. This is complemented with a moderate melon note, which is more candied, with connotations of honeydew and cantaloupe. The profile is finished with a light cucumber accent, which keeps things light and contributes to the juicy mouthfeel. This is an excellent fruit profile and I’d love to see an iced variant.

Doozy Tropix – Malibu

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling Malibu is described as a blend of tangerine, grenadine (pomegranate), banana and ice. To my palate, the tangerine and banana notes work in tandem to be the most prominent flavours in this mix. The tangerine is bright and zesty, while the banana has lots of volume and creamy mouthfeel. Both are bold but certainly authentic, rather than candied. The pomegranate note is fairly mild but it does add a little bite to the finish, elevating the citrus notes of the tangerine. The icy kick at the end cuts through the sweetness of the mix nicely, without interfering with the balance of flavours. A complex tropical cocktail.

Doozy Tropix – Rio

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

Rio is described as a blend of mangosteen, guava, citrus and ice. I’ve never tried a real mangosteen, so I can’t vouch for its authenticity here. To my palate, the top notes are a blend of lychee and pineapple, with plenty of bright sweetness and tartness in equal measure. This is contrasted by a rich candystyle guava, which brings significant sticky mouthfeel to the mix. There is a mild citrus accent running through the profile but it’s not very prominent among the bold tropical flavours. A mild dose of coolant finishes the mix, ensuring that these super bold flavours do not outstay their welcome. Another well-balanced tropical cocktail.

Doozy Tropix – Hawaii

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling Hawaii is described as a blend of huckleberry, blue raspberry, aniseed and ice. Huckleberry is popular in North America but much less common here in the UK. The best way I can describe it is a sweeter blueberry, with the floral notes turned up several notches. This is contrasted with a candy blue raspberry, which adds noticeable tartness and stops the floral notes from becoming overwhelming. The aniseed note here is very subtle, mostly tasted on the finish with a light coolant kick, which keeps things fresh. This is a unique, well-balanced ice and fruit profile that changes throughout the day

Doozy Tropix – Tahiti

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling Tahiti is described as a blend of maracuya (passionfruit) and grapefruit with a citrus fizz. The dominant note here is a super-authentic grapefruit. This is a flavour usually reserved for background notes, so I’m glad to see it portrayed so vividly and accurately in this mix. The bold bitterness of this flavour might not be for everyone but it works for me. This is accented with a moderate soda-style passionfruit, which brings some much-needed additional sweetness to the mix. There is a mild commercial lemonade note here too, but this feels like an accent to the grapefruit more than anything else. There appears to be a mild coolant on the finish, though it’s less noticeable than in some of the other Tropix offerings. A standout grapefruit blend.

Proper Vape - Citrus Drink

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

If you’re looking for a refreshing and moreish all day vape, Zeus has got you covered with Citrus Drink. This e-liquid has great top notes of sharp and bittersweet lemon and bold grapefruit with a nice level of tartness. All this is nicely complemented by sweet orange undertones that blend nicely together for a satisfying vape. This is one of those flavours that transport you to simpler times in summer with a funfair of fresh citrus flavors that leave you wanting more.

Proper Vape - Grape Soda

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

The grape soda flavour profile is one that has been done by countless companies in the vape industry. Some are done really well while some fall short of the mark, so whenever I try a new grape soda juice I’m not expecting an earth-moving revelation much like when an archaeologist discovers a rare find that changes the landscape of history as we know it. I must say that Zeus has managed to knock it out of the park with this one which is big, bold and bursting with fruitiness and fizz. This is a solid version of a modern-day classic.

Proper Vape - Raspberry Sherbet

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

With a mix of bold raspberry and tangy sherbet what is not to love about this flavour? The initial inhale is a mouth-tingling mix of sweet and tart that lasts longer than roadworks on the M5. I must say I’ve been impressed by Zeus’s ability to take classic and simple and really put their own stamp on it and take them to that next level. This is a perfect palate cleanser vape and one I can see myself enjoying time and time again.

Proper Vape - Berries and Grapes

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Zeus describes this flavour as a unique combination of succulent berries and grapes that delivers a sweet and tart flavour and I am happy to report that they got that profile spot on. The initial hit of sweet berries on the inhale packs such a punch that you may need an ambulance on standby. There is an unusual, but satisfying, mix of herbs and subtle spices blended into this juice that really complement the bold berry notes. All in all this is a very pleasant take on a berry flavour.

Proper Vape - Blue Bubblegum

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Bubblegum is another classic e-liquid flavour but Zeus has added its own twist here by incorporating the ever-popular blueberry accents into the mix. The initial top note is a sweet candy bubblegum. This blooms like a daffodil in early April into a burst of vibrant blueberry that merges elegantly in the mix and finished with a satisfying sugary exhale. Another great take on classic flavour here.

Mango Blood

VG/PG 70/30

No juice line would be complete without a mango in it some where but not everyone can get this potentially-tricky flavour right. Also with so many other mango flavours on the market it can be really hard to actually stand out from the crowd and get noticed. I think that Sadboy have done it with this offering. With their no nonsense, pure sweet mango juice my taste buds got the sweetness they were craving plus a refreshing hit, like an elephant squirting water in my face. I could not put this down.

Shamrock Cookie

VG/PG 70/30

The Mixologists over at Sadboy have hit the nail on the head with this little beauty or maybe it was simply the luck of the Irish. This had my taste buds bouncing around like a kangaroo and it is not often I get to say that about an e-liquid. Not only have they mastered the minty shamrock shake recipe, but they married it up with their signature sugar cookie. This is sweet, minty and it gets better with every inhale. A winner for me.

Pumpkin Cookie

VG/PG 75/25

Pumpkin is not something you come across in the e-liquid world very often, let alone pumpkin cookie. I really had no idea what I was going to find but I am glad I tried it. Now, after vaping Pump kin Cookie for a while I am starting to wonder why this is not a more popular flavour. This e-liquid has a fresh pumpkin flavour with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon all packed in with a sweet cookie crunch. Its Halloween all year round with this sweet, spiced delight.

Punch Berry Blood

VG/PG 70/30

Another juice where Sadboy show their skills as the masters of balanced flavours. This e-liquid boasts a mega-sweet berry punch complemented with a sour raspberry lemonade. The flavours are so perfectly balanced here that this e-liquid will have you taste buds going up and down like a bungee jump. This is sweet, sour and refreshing all in one hit. Well worth a try.

Rainbow Blood

VG/PG 70/30

Rainbow blood offers a mystery blend of tropical fruits. It takes me back to the summer where I am sitting on a beach with a cocktail in hand. Sadboy have not only perfected a wonderful dessert flavour but they have also got the fruity juices nailed as well. There are more notes of different fruits in this banger than there are legs on a caterpillar and that’s saying something.

Butter Cookie

VG/PG 75/25

This is a perfectly-crafted buttery, shortbread cookie on the in hale with a nice subtle zest of lemon on the exhale. The balance of sweet and citrus here is perfection which easily puts Butter Cookie into all-day-vape territory for me. This moreish little num ber will take you back to your nan’s homemade shortbread for sure. And who doesn’t love nan’s home-made shortbread?

Tranquillity

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Zen Vaper juices are all hand made in small batches and are presteeped for maximum flavour. Tranquility has a complex flavour profile – creamy butterscotch and soft caramel in a rich, creamy Zen custard. The butterscotch and custard notes are indeed creamy and the richness of the caramel comes out in all the best ways. All the Caramel hits you on the inhale and the custard really comes through on the exhale. The custard finish is one of the highlights for me as it comes at exactly the right time to perfectly balance the other amazing flavours in this e-liquid.

Zazen

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

This is described as the milk left over after eating several bowls of fruity pebbles cereal and that is exactly what it tastes like. Zazen takes me back to my childhood, slurping the delicious creamy milk straight out the bowl with the remnants of my favourite fruity cereal mixed in and my mum having kittens because I wasn’t using my spoon. It’s a classic flavour and a bit of a banger. This one is thoroughly recommended.

Gratitude

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

If you like donuts you won’t be disappointed with this little number and after experiencing this e-liquid, gratitude is exactly what you will feel. This juice doesn’t need to go fishing for compliments because they naturally come in thick and fast. The donut is spot on and the sweet Bavarian cream on the exhale with a subtle hint of chocolate ganache are all on point. This will surely satisfy any chocoholic out there and I would know because I am one.

Fruit Salad

VG/PG ratio: 75/25

Described as ripe juicy peach with sweet pear, followed by blueberry, raspberry and strawberry this e-liquid certainly has a lot going on. My initial thought was whether all these competing flavours could be integrated together like they do in a real fruit salad. If one flavour was to dominate then this would be totally overpowering and be very offputting. However I need not have worried because everything is in perfect balance. I get notes of all of these fruits and they just keep coming and coming until the last wisp of vapour has left my lips. Free your mouth from the prison it’s in and get some Fruit Salad down your neck.

Transcendence

VG/PG ratio: 80/20

This is Zen Vaper’s signature vanilla bean custard so I was expecting great things from this e-liquid and it most certainly does not disappoint. This is a no-nonsense, straight up, sweet custard and it is right on point. Hand made in small batches and you can really tell that this recipe has had a lot of time taken on it. This is perfectly creamy, thick and sweet – just how I like it. If I ghost you on WhatsApp it is because I’m vaping this vibe and I’ve transcended into a custard coma.

Snickerdoodle

VG/PG ratio: 80/20

Like many of the Zen Vaper creations there is little to be gained from understanding the flavour just from reading the name of the juice. Snickerdoodle is actually described as warm-from-the-oven sugar cookie, infused with sweet cinnamon. Getting cinnamon right is not always an easy task, but Zen Vaper have been very careful with their measurements. The cinnamon is not at all overpowering but it is clearly there. It actually complements the sweet sugar cookie and makes for a delightful oven fresh kind of flavour. This ticks all the boxes for me and only a silly sausage wouldn’t want to vape this all day.

specifications

ZYN Espressino Strength 4

Nicotine content 1.5% (0.4g/nicotine pouch)

NICOTINE POUCHES

By Kendall Cannon

Nicotine pouches seem to be the up-and-coming product on the alternative nicotine market as we leave 2020.

Numerous new companies are entering this space and driving up the popularity of this discreet nicotine supply method with the products readily available from convenience stores to airports and online. As we head into 2021 I can only see this trend increasing and products like this gaining more traction. ZYN has been leading this space for some time, delivering a high quality and consistent product with great flavour and, more importantly, a product that genuinely works in fighting off nicotine cravings.

I vape a lot but there are many times where it is just impossible to do so and this is where products such as ZYN nicotine pouches come into their own. When I tried a nicotine pouch for the first time, I was a skeptic and not keen on the idea of having something underneath my lip to cure my cravings. However, my mind was changed on the first flight I took after being introduced to this new solution. Usually a flight for me is a high stress clock watching exercise, waiting until I can finally get off the plane, have a vape and get rid of the inner nicotine-deprived hulk that’s been waiting to end the bloodline of the serial seat recliner directly in front of me, but feeling adventurous and intrigued to really give nicotine pouches a fair test I popped one in, sat back and braced myself for the usual in-flight experience I’m accustomed to as a nicotine addict.

To my surprise, 30 minutes in and there was not a craving in sight, and once you become accustomed to the

initial tingling that comes along with a ZYN nicotine pouch, it’s a pleasant experience that is accompanied by a good solid flavour. You even forget you are using one which was one of my biggest concerns when trying this for the first time.

As a heavy nicotine user, the ZYN Espressino level four strength pouches were perfect for my needs. They contain 0.4g of nicotine per pouch which works out at 1.5 percent nicotine content and this is exactly what I needed. I have tried the lower strengths but, for me, they don’t quite cut the mustard. Just like when vaping, getting the correct nicotine strength is important, so I would take time experimenting on the four strength levels to get the one that is just right for you.

I can see products like these being effective for someone looking to quit smoking and wanting an alternative

to vaping where e-cigarette use is prohibited, especially in indoor public spaces, while on flights and when using other public transport. The ZYN Espressino has good flavour, with the sweet and bold coffee notes helping make for a good overall experience.

I personally prefer this flavour to a spearmint or citrus as I find it a lot less overpowering and intense in this delivery method. It is subtle but satisfying at the same time which is perfect for a product like this. Overall, for anyone looking to quit smoking, I would always firstly recommend vaping, after all this is what worked for me and has helped me stay off the cigarettes for eight years. However if you want to quit using a different method or are a vaper looking for a solution to not having to try and stealth vape in those public situations these are a really effective option.

HOBBYIST CORNER

Worth the hype? | Spotlight on Andreas Flaming

Words: Benedict Jones

WORTHthe hype?

SXK Supbox

possibilities. In other words, the Supbox is both a side-by-side mod and Billet Box platform.

In addition, the standard battery tube can be removed, allowing the user to switch to a smaller 18350 tube, or choose from the variety of customised 18650 tubes already available for the Supbox.

The SEVO-70 chipset has benefited from a variety of upgrades over the last year. Five clicks of the fire button power the device on/off. From here, three clicks allows access to the basic modes, including variable wattage, VV, bypass and temperature control.

In variable wattage mode, holding fire and '–' will access further settings, including power curves and UI customisation, such as orientation, stealth mode and clearing the puff counter. When in temperature control mode, two clicks of the fire button allow you to adjust wattage, whilst holding fire and + opens TCR settings.

Battery management is on par with other efficient chipsets, power delivery is very snappy and power curves are there if you want a super aggressive, or mellow experience. Temperature control worked nicely with a stainless steel build out of the box and TCR is available, should the factory settings not be to your liking.

There’s a lot to cover when it comes to vape quality. Your first option is using the provided AIO tank, compatible with RPM coils. The supplied 0.6Ohm and 1.1Ohm mesh coils both firmly fall into the average classification for coils of this fitting and are held back by the total lack of airflow control.

Specifications:

- Dimensions: 86mm*53mm*31mm

- Materials: ABS, stainless steel

- Power output: 1W-70W

- Battery capacity: 1x external 18650 or 18350 cell (18350 battery tube not included)

- Display: OLED

- Charging: Micro-USB

The Supbox is an interesting mod which promises near endless customisation.

Construction, fit and finish are good. This is a light, well-balanced device and a smattering of stainless steel hardware gives it a robust feel. Some elements of the ABS shell were a little rough out of the box, but smoothed out after a couple of week’s use. Threading is nicely done and everything feels solid when fully assembled.

The Supbox’s main selling point is versatility. The standard version comes with an AIO tank compatible with RPM coils, but this can be swapped for a standard 510 with relative ease. The AIO cage is also fully compatible with Billet Box Boro tanks, opening up a world of

The second option is using a Boro tank or other Billet Box compatible atomiser. My current favourite is the Atmizoo Vapesnail and this was, as ever, an incredible experience. Since atomisers like the Vapesnail take care of airflow independently, vape quality is unaffected by having a non-billet box device powering them. Essentially, I’m getting a Billet Box vape experience, with different ergonomics.

Finally, the device can be used as a side-by-side mod. Removing the Boro tank adapter reveals a 510 connection and a 510 extension plate is also supplied.

The Supbox also allows for atomisers up to 24mm diameter, which covers a broad spectrum. Personal favourites like the Kayfun Lite 2019 and QP Gata worked well with the device, though I needed to use an extended cap on my Kayfun for it to clear the battery tube sufficiently. If your tanks are too short to clear the battery tube, you can simply use a longer drip tip.

In summary, this is a modular, customisable device, with plenty of scope for future accessories. From battery tubes, to cages and further AIO compatibility possible, this mod feels future proof. My only real gripe is the AIO tank that’s included, which could be improved by some form of airflow control. The Supbox is certainly worth considering if you’re a hobbyist vaper who values utility.

Words: Benedict Jones

SPOTLIGHT ON ANDREAS FLAMING AKA @Teamofsteam

Andreas purchased a Nikon D5600 in May 2019 but has become one of vaping’s most prolific creators in just 12 months.

Like many other hobbyists, Andreas started with humble ambitions, wanting to exchange his time and creativity for the chance to try a wide range of products.

In a short space of time, @Teamofsteam was gaining lots of recognition in the community, giving Andreas the opportunity to turn his passion into a career.

He said: “I wanted the brands to sponsor me and send me their liquids in return for pictures and in a short time I have overtaken many photographers on Instagram. I see myself no better than other photographers who I like but my circle of friends is of the opinion that I take better pictures.”

Andreas has been earning a living with photography since February 2020, big brands order his pictures every month and he takes advertising photos and product images for his clients as well as managing their Instagram accounts.

“I use the Nikon D5600 and two macro lenses. I have a photo studio with everything I need for the photos. I buy something new every month to improve my photos, for editing I use Photoshop and Lightroom. I spend the money I earn on my photo equipment so that I can always take better photos,” said Andreas.

Like many independent businesses, @Teamofsteam has hugely benefitted from the networking opportunities that vape expos provide.

“I went to the Hall of Vape and talked to a friend whose RTAs I have been using for years and showed him my photos. He was immediately enthusiastic and booked me as a photographer for his products.

“I always wanted to get better. I’ve seen photos from other photographers on Instagram and wanted to get that good too. I’m always dissatisfied with my photos and after a while I see the mistakes in my photos, I try to do better next time.

“I get up, have my coffee and check the emails from my company Orisvape, see what’s new on Instagram. Then take a shower and start with my first photo. During the day I take three photos and take care of my business. I work until late at night.

“I’m happy that more and more brands are willing to pay money for my photos. I want the customer to be satisfied and get back to me when they have new products. If the customer is satisfied, he tells his acquaintances and my name becomes more and more popular. This allows me to take more photos and continue to invest in my work.”

Instagram is now a very competitive place for vape photography but Andreas is happy to share his tips for those who want to get a foot in the door.

“Don’t try to copy someone. Find your own direction, work on the quality of your images. If you are looking for sponsors, buy a new product from the brand and take a unique photo of the product. The brand will contact you if they like your photos. Don’t give up, don’t post pictures on Instagram that you’re not satisfied with. Invest in your photo equipment because to make money you have to spend money first.”

@Teamofsteam is one of few photography accounts to work

Words: Benedict Jones

directly with SvoёMesto, who are one of the leading European hardware manufacturers, based in Germany. “I’m a big fan of SvoёMesto. I’ve had their products right from the start, there’s nothing better for me. I’ve tested all premium brands. I am proud to be able to take photos for SvoёMesto because I am convinced of this brand and want more vapers to find out about their products.”

Seeing a gap in the market for sweetenerfree e-liquids, Andreas has now founded Orisvape.

“Through photography, I’ve been sponsored by many brands with liquids. I quickly noticed that the liquids taste good, but after a short time, the coil is dirty and it no longer tastes good because too much sucralose is used.

“I wanted to do it differently, flavours without sucralose and without flavour enhancers. It’s hard to market the brand because I don’t have that much money for it. It’s also very difficult to create delicious liquids without flavour enhancers and sucralose, but we have three flavours that are really popular with vapers. It is very important to me that Orisvape is a success because the products are very well made. You can vape over 100ml with a coil.”

Looking forward, Andreas says he wants to do more than just pictures of vape products. He wants to produce more short videos and collaborate on joint projects with another photographer. You can find out more about Andreas at @teamofsteam and @flaming_shots.de on Instagram.

It is very important to me that Orisvape is a success because the products are very well made.