Issue 40

SEVEN YEARS OF SUCCESS!

Welcome to our anniversary edition, where we celebrate seven years of page-turning stories and hot-topic news.

IS VAPING’S BRIGHTEST LIGHT GOING DARK?

The UK has long been hailed as a harm reduction hero, but could a slew of anti-vaping headlines put all that at risk?

WARNING - THIS PRODUCT MAY CONTAIN NICOTINE WHICH IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE

WARNING - THIS PRODUCT MAY CONTAIN NICOTINE WHICH IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE

EDITORIAL

Editor - Patrick Griffin

Deputy Editor - Jordan Millar

Journalist - Oliver Smith

DESIGN

Head of Design - Hayley Parker

Head Designer - Amy Harrison

Graphic Designer - Michelle Piovesan Design Team Co-ordinator - Lucy Booth

Design Support - Anna Difusco

MARKETING

Marketing Director - Katie Loomes Web Developer - Kain Alden

Marketing Executives : Alicia Snow-Simpson, Carrie Strouther Marketing Admin - Lauren Pilliner

SALES

Client Partnerships Manager

Steve Culf

+44 7795 200 167

Sales Executive - Kirk Martin +44 7917 582 001

Sales Executive - Giovanni De Pietro +44 7522 167 344

Sales Executive - Pete Masters +44 7305 960 345

China Sales Executive - Arlen Luo +86 137 012 666 84

ACCOUNTS

Finance Director - Kris Worton

Finance Executive - Rochelle Warsop

EVENTS

Events Director - Abida Razaque

Bus Manager - Farooq ‘H’ Hussain

Assistant Bus Manager - Sid De Silva

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Pom Kaila

CEO

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello and welcome to this very special edition of

Vapouround Magazine.

We have teamed up with Monster Vape Labs to celebrate our seventh anniversary with a limited-edition presentation box containing this issue and other goodies.

Having been with Vapouround from the beginning, I have first-hand experience of just how much this life-saving industry has helped adult smokers quit.

Just look at our coverage of the first Middle East & North Africa Awards that we held in conjunction with Vape Paper, to see the power for good that the global vape community has become.

Britain’s sensible, evidence-based approach to vape regulation is the gold standard to help smokers switch to a far less harmful method of consuming nicotine.

Over the years I have seen vaping embraced within the National Health Service like never before as clinicians begin to understand its power as a stopsmoking aid.

But as deputy editor Jordan Millar and I worked on putting this edition together, we were left wondering if all the progress we have made to date could be at risk.

The UK seems to be in middle of a blitz of anti-vaping misinformation and lies based on junk science which paints our sector as public enemy number one.

This issue contains a special report on

how the national press is vilifying our industry with horror stories that are riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies.

The latest mainstream media scare is that vaping causes ‘popcorn lung’ – a rare and often deadly respiratory disease – but this is simply untrue.

This risible reporting mirrors the scare stories that have been coming out of America for years and they will surely lead to more deaths as smokers are scared to switch to a less harmful alternative.

We are also seeing a huge rise in ‘ban vaping to protect our children’ stories and, if the media follow the US example, these will explode in popularity in the months to come.

We need to protect our industry to stop the needless deaths of adult smokers but, at the same time, we must see robust enforcement to stop vaping products getting into the hands of under 18s.

Thank you and happy reading.

Patrick Griffin | Editor

Paul Caplin

SHORTFILLS

Vapouround’s Patrick Griffin and Jordan Millar select their top picks of short vape-related stories and research making news from around the world.

DON’T MAKE US laugh

Aussies are being drip-fed an ‘unhealthy diet of anti-science’ when it comes to e-cigarettes, says a leading economist. Christopher Snowdon dismantled the ‘basket case’ attitude of Australia’s health establishment, poking fun at a number of anti-vaping editorials. Writing on The Snowdon Substack, he demolished one story which claimed a ‘shadowy’ vape industry was smuggling in black market devices to hook kids. He said: “Reading news op-eds from down under, you would think the country had been cut off from the rest of the world…all you can do is laugh at it.”

NO HOLDING plaque

Riot E-liquids have cheekily erected a blue plaque honouring the story that ‘made Boris Johnson quit’. Sitting outside News UK’s London HQ, it’s dedicated to Sun journalist Noa Hoffman, who uncovered Conservative Chris Pincher’s shocking sexual assault scandal and ultimately triggered Johnson’s political demise. A Riot E-liquids spokesperson said: “We have helped thousands of people quit ourselves, so we wanted to recognise Noa’s blockbuster scoop.”

PHILIPPINES LEADS the way

Vaping has been legalised in the Philippines as part of a tobacco harm reduction strategy to help adult smokers quit. The law will regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution,

use and communication of vapour and heated tobacco products. It will also ban vape sales to under 18s.

Liza Katsiashvili, community manager at the World Vapers’ Alliance, said: “Other countries should follow this example and endorse smart vaping policies to ensure improved public health for millions of consumers globally.”

I BET I CAN QUIT smoking

Chances

method… Scientists have invented a game where smokers can bet that they will give up cigarettes…and earn cash if successful. The QuitBet game is funded by a research grant from the US-based National Institutes of Health. The study’s Principal Investigator Jamie Rosen said: “Quitting smoking is hard, so why not mix in some fun and the thrill of winning money? We’re finding that it really helps people get through those tough first few weeks.”

A TRUE HARM REDUCTION champion

Respected activist Greg Conley has taken a top position with the American Vapor Manufacturers lobbyist group. Conley, who has backed the reduced risk alternative for over a decade, joins the AVM as Director of Legislative and External Affairs. He will remain as president of the American Vaping Association, but has taken the new role to ‘fight for the survival of the US industry’. AVM boss Amanda Wheeler said: “He’s a true champion for harm reduction… I’m looking forward to the great advocacy work we will do together!”

are you won’t have heard of this quit smoking

THIS INFORMATION NOT misinformation

Harm reduction activist Dr Colin Mendelsohn has launched an eight-part video campaign to combat ‘rampant misinformation’ about vaping. The collection of short clips was inspired by a series of ‘alarmist videos’ from Australian state department Queensland Health and will address damning misconceptions about vaping. Mendelsohn said it’s unacceptable for authorities to provide ‘untruthful information’ to the public, warning that it will only lead to more tobacco-related deaths. He said: “Dr Col’s Vape Truths are designed to help adult smokers get the facts on vaping so they can make informed decisions about switching.”

CAN WE LOO-SE THE vape HYSTERIA?

A UK company is marketing a new hi-tech sensor which instantly texts teachers when children are found vaping at school. Monitoring specialists Ecl-ips says their HALO smart sensor will detect vaping in changing rooms and toilets where traditional CCTV cameras cannot be used. The company said the HALO sensors received more enquiries than any other product when they were demonstrated at recent schools’ conferences. See our news story ‘It's st-all a bit much’ where we report on Australian children being locked in school bathrooms for vaping.

VAPING reprieve

ON THE CARDS?

Fears that vaping could be outlawed in Malaysia under proposed new antismoking laws appear to have abated… at least for now. The draft smoking legislation will be scrutinised by a parliamentary special select committee as the country prepares for an imminent general election. Samsul Kamal Ariffin, president of the Malaysian Organization of Vape Entities, said: “We were concerned that vaping was lumped into this anti-smoking bill which would’ve criminalised consumers and retailers.

“MPs now have the opportunity to take vape and non-combustible products out of the legislation and treat them as harm reduction tools.”

Taxed

TO DEATH?

A

scrum-fair RULING?

Rugby star Kevin Proctor – who was previously caught in possession of cocaine and biting another player – has been sacked for…vaping. The former Gold Coast Titans captain was fired after uploading a now-deleted clip of himself using an e-cigarette in a toilet cubicle during a recent game. A Gold Coast spokesperson confirmed that the Kiwi international breached National Rugby League rules and would ‘not return to play or train’. However, advocates questioned why Proctor was kicked out for vaping, but received little more than a fine and suspension for his more extreme previous offences.

Adding just one dollar in tax to the price of vaping devices will see more people switching back to smoking, new research suggests. Scientists at Georgia State University found that even a modest price hike could see vape sales drop as smoking levels increased. The study recommended that any new vape taxes should be matched with tobacco tax hikes to stop vapers reverting to cigarettes. Study leader Dr Abigail Friedman said: “From a public health perspective it is important that that less expensive option is also less harmful.”

SEVEN YEARS OF success

This edition marks seven years, 40 issues and millions of words from Vapouround Magazine. In that time, we’ve covered the hottest industry news, organised high-profile international events and attended countless expos across the globe. But, as our editor Patrick Griffin says, this is only the beginning…vaping still has so much potential and there are a billion smokers who can benefit from the quitting power of e-cigarettes. He said: “These past seven years have been a whirlwind and it’s been amazing to see both the industry and the magazine blossom…I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

WHO would HAVE THOUGHT IT?

An e-cigarettes Q&A on the World Health Organization’s website has been branded an ‘absolute scandal’ for delivering ‘lie after lie.’ The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates said explaining that ENDS stood for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems was all the WHO got right. For example, instead of saying that vaping was safer than smoking, the WHO said both posed health risks and should be avoided. CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas said: “If you were a smoker desperate to quit, you’d likely stay smoking after reading this Q&A.”

BRAZIL’S vapers DEFY BAN

The Brazilian health regulator has voted to keep the country’s existing vape ban in place. The decision was made during a four-hour televised meeting and means the sale, import and advertising of vape products remains illegal. Federal vape regulator Anvisa will also look at imposing new regulations which are designed to enforce the ban and reduce demand for tobacco harm reduction products. Despite being banned since 2009, e-cigaretes are growing in popularity, especially among young adults with around one-in-five 18-24-year-olds vaping.

YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS… vapes

A tech-savvy team of volunteers is using e-cigarettes to help power Ukrainian forces amidst conflict with Russia.

Led by Ivan Volynets, the resourceful group wanted to use their IT skills to support the war effort, when they discovered they could repurpose vape batteries as much-needed power banks. Volynets and his team have since built over 300 units for the Ukrainian military, posting their efforts on social media where they received an influx of support and donations of vape hardware.

For more on vaping and the UkrainianRussian conflict, check out our story ‘Charge!’ later in this issue.

HAVE YOU forgottenSOMETHING?

The Welsh government is being accused of missing a huge opportunity by failing to embrace vaping in its new Tobacco Control Strategy. The country wants to be smokefree by 2030 and has identified a number of ways to get cigarette use down. However the UKVIA’s John Dunne said: “It is unfortunate and frustrating that the Welsh Government has missed this golden opportunity to champion vaping as the best and most effective method to help people quit smoking for good.”

UK’S ticking TIME BOMB

Thousands of vape products could be banned from sale in the UK due to a little-understood consequence of Brexit. Around 40,000 products, dating back to 2016, were approved on trust under the European Common Entry Gateway (EUCEG). Manufacturers simply declared that their products were compliant, but post Brexit, the UK can randomly run its own checks. Lee Bryan, managing director of Arcus Compliance, said: “Without doubt, there are products on the market that require attention. Brands are being asked to provide more information – or being forced to exit the market.”

USA1: FDA’S ‘shocking INDICTMENT’

END THIS now

An international coalition of vapers is calling on Australian health chiefs to end their clampdown on e-cig businesses. They warn that targeting legal vape businesses will cost jobs and drive consumers back to smoking. Their warning comes after several vape shop owners across Western Australia were ordered to cease operations after failing health department inspections. Brain Marlow, campaign director at Legalise Vaping Australia, said: The vape shop crackdown policy risks the lives of millions and needs to be addressed immediately.” See our news stories ‘Worlds apart’ and ‘It's st-all a bit much’ for more from Australia.

SAVE VAPING IN Portugal

Vaping is under attack in Portugal as health chiefs have left it out of the country’s national cancer plan. The World Vapers’ Alliance says half-a-million lives could be saved if legislators followed the UK’s example and ‘embraced smart tobacco harm reduction policies’.

Alberto Gómez Hernández, the Latin America Community Manager for the WVA said: “Portuguese politicians are ignoring scientific evidence and the experiences of millions of consumers who have already quit smoking thanks to vaping.” He called on consumers to urge the Portuguese Health Ministry to adopt vaping in the proposed new cancer plan.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s top tobacco scientist, Matt Holman, has quit to work on tobacco harm reduction for Philip Morris International. Martin Cullip, from The Taxpayers Protection Alliance's Consumer Center, said Holman was a ‘square peg in a round hole’ at the FDA. He said: “It is a shocking indictment that a top scientist feels he is better placed working to reduce the harms of smoking, with a tobacco company rather than at the hopelessly incompetent and politically hogtied FDA.”

USA 2: HERE’S YOUR evidence!

A US consumer advocacy group is under fire for claiming that ‘real world evidence’ shows that e-cigarettes are NOT an effective quit smoking aid. An article on the Public Citizen website called on the FDA to ‘truly protect public health by banning all e-cigarette products’. However, global health advocate Charles A Gardner, challenged them on Twitter saying: “Please try to explain this to any of the 6.2 million Americans who HAVE quit smoking with them…then get back to me.” At the time of going to press, they had not responded.

happy anniversary

IT’S ST-ALL A BIT MUCH

VAPING TEENS TO BE LOCKED IN SCHOOL BATHROOMS?

Words: Jordan Millar

SOME AUSSIE SCHOOLS ARE INSTALLING SILENT ALARMS IN BATHROOMS AS PART OF THE LATEST ‘UNHINGED’ EFFORT TO CURB YOUTH VAPING.

The controversial tech – which has seen a furious pushback online – would send discreet alerts when students were suspected of using e-cigarettes.

Shockingly, the children would then reportedly be locked in the bathroom until a teacher searched them for hidden vapes.

The move sparked outrage amongst parents and harm reduction advocates, who warned the alarms were the latest symptom of a ‘panicked’ moral outrage over e-cigarettes.

They stressed the new tech is nothing more than a breach of human rights, even threatening to sue if their children ever fell victim to this ‘reprehensible’ new vape-busting strategy.

Responding to what he dubbed the latest ‘what the f*ck news story’, vocal advocate Charles A Gardner said there would be ‘hell to pay’ if a teacher ever locked his child in the bathroom.

Gardner’s fury was echoed by a chorus of critics, including proud mother, harm reduction supporter and Twitter user ‘VapinSquirrel’, who sarcastically said: “Ah yes, children love to be searched.

“As a parent, do that to any of my children and there’d be big-time hell to pay; this moral panic of ‘vapemadness’ is just going too far.”

She added that ‘detectors could give off false alarms’, which could result in students being wrongly accused and may well deter kids from wanting to use the bathroom at all…vapers or not.

Despite the international uproar, schools are still defending the move, calling it a necessary precaution to protect kids from the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Mark James, deputy principal of St Bede’s College, Melbourne, one of the schools using the new detectors, said: “Of course staff don’t

want to be checking the toilets.

“We try and do everything in our power to stop kids from engaging in activities that are harmful to themselves…it’s difficult because they are so easy to conceal.”

However, this sadly isn’t the first time that children have been caught in the global crossfire between the harm reduction community and anti-vaping lobbyists.

Over the last few issues we’ve reported on cops brutalising and tasing teens and school children being strip searched down to their underwear…all in an effort to protect them from the ‘dangers of vaping’.

Michelle Minton, senior policy analyst for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said: “Can we call it a war yet?

“This is getting really insane and by ‘this’ I mean the violations of human rights the rest of society is willing to tolerate because of their hatred of nicotine users.”

““

Do that to any of my children and there’d be big-time hell to pay; this moral panic of ‘vapemadness’ is just going too far.

Words: Patrick Griffin

The EU Commission has been branded as ‘misguided’ over its proposals to ban the sale of flavoured heated tobacco products as part of its Beating Cancer plan.

The move follows what the body says is a ‘significant increase’ in sales within the 27 member states.

Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said: “By removing flavoured heated tobacco from the market, we are taking yet another step towards realising our vision to create a ‘Tobacco Free Generation’ by 2040.

“With nine-out-of-ten lung cancers caused by tobacco, we want to make smoking as unattractive as possible to protect the health of our citizens and save lives.”

She added: “Stronger actions to reduce tobacco consumption, stricter enforcement and keeping pace with new developments to address the endless flow of new products entering the market is key for this.

“Prevention will always be better than cure.”

However, critics say the Commission has missed the point and argued that ‘reduced risk’ products are always a better alternative than smoking cigarettes.

World Vapers’ Alliance Director Michael Landl said he was shocked that the EU Commission continued to fight tobacco harm reduction.

He said: “The Commission’s negative approach to harm reduction will do nothing but boost the black market and push people back to smoking.

“Vaping, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products all help people quit smoking and are less harmful.”

Landl added: “Instead of recommending smokers switch to less harmful alternatives, Commissioner Kyriakides refuses to listen to science, experts and consumers.

“This plan shows that the EU Commission intends to further crack down on harm reduction, while accepting all the negative consequences.”

Landl has also expressed alarm that just weeks earlier, Commissioner Kyriakides questioned the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid and claimed it was a gateway into smoking.

He said he was astonishing that the Commission continued to ‘peddle these worn-out and debunked theories’ and warned that its approach would cost lives.

Vaping advocates fear that the EU could also ban vape flavours as part of its current review of the Tobacco Products Directive.

Landl said if flavoured vaping products were banned in Europe, it would push millions back to smoking.

He added: “We need to convince our representatives in the European Parliament to push back on the Commission’s hostility towards harm reduction.

“The upcoming update of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) will determine the future of vaping, possibly threatening the most successful smoking cessation aid and public health.

“Currently, the EU is discussing the next TPD update and how to include new nicotine alternatives. Unfortunately, the EU aims to continue its hostile and anti-scientific attack on vaping and other harm reducing products.”

As the European Commission announces it wants to ban flavoured heated tobacco products, there are fears that it could ramp up plans to do the same for vaping.

“The Commission’s negative approach to harm reduction will do nothing but boost the black market and push people back to smoking.”

Worlds APART

Australia and New Zealand couldn’t be more different when it comes to reducing smoking rates.

Australia has built a reputation as one of the most hostile anti-vaping nations in the world…a stark contrast to it’s Kiwi counterpart.

Two sides of the same harm reduction coin, these oceanic neighbours aren’t just

separated by miles of sea, but by their wildly different approaches to e-cigarettes.

Here we highlight two current news stories which perfectly demonstrate the deep divide down under.

Words: Patrick Griffin and Jordan Millar

Anger

Aussie Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly has warned that vaping may be the ‘next big health issue’ after COVID and says he is ‘deeply concerned’ about its popularity

He was speaking as the country’s National Health and Medical Research Council released an 18-page vaping report criticising the smoking alternative.

The document said vaping exposed users to ‘potentially dangerous chemicals and toxins’, claiming there was only ‘limited evidence’ that it helped smokers quit.

as ‘false

claims will cost smokers’ lives’ Australia

Nancy Loucas from tobacco harm reduction advocacy group CAPHRA hit back at both the CMO and the report.

She said: “This egregious document is not worth the paper it’s written on, yet it’s now the bible for public health guidance in and around Australia.

“It makes outrageously false claims and will only cost more Australian smokers their lives.”

Critics dispute many claims in the NHMRC document including that vaping is a gateway

to smoking and increases the risk of people relapsing back to cigarettes.

Loucas said it ‘heavily exaggerated’ the health impacts, poisoning and explosion risks associated with vaping and referenced toxins and potential harms without a ‘fair comparison’ to smoking.

She added: “Ridiculously, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer considers vaping the next biggest health issue after COVID-19. Has he ever heard of smoking which kills over 20,000 Australians every year?”

New Zealand

Despite its Aussie neighbour’s continued attempts to besmirch vaping, New Zealand has once again proven itself a harm reduction ally.

And while Australia doubles down on its ‘hardline anti-vaping approach’, a pioneering Kiwi hospital is handing out free e-cigarettes to patients.

Staff at Whanganui Hospital hope to combat the often-overlooked psychological harms of smoking by giving people an avenue to quit.

It saw patients at its Te Awhina acute mental health ward supplied with vape devices to help them move away from deadly cigarettes.

A spokesperson stressed the consequences

of tobacco go far beyond the physical and the harm reduction scheme could help people become smokefree.

They said: “We have all heard about the damage tobacco does to our bodies, but what people may not be aware of is that smoking contributes to poor mental health.

“We are making these changes to not only assist our patients with their physical journey, but also their mental journey.”

The spokesperson said the move was a ‘great collaborative approach’, with clinicians, staff and patients all working towards the same goal.

The ground-breaking scheme – which also allows patients to use the devices indoors – was welcomed by international pro-

vaping voices, who praised it as ‘true harm reduction at work’.

New Zealand has a long history of supporting the reduced risk alternative.

In just the past few months, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern openly endorsed e-cigarettes on TV and policymakers introduced revolutionary cigarette-busting laws.

CAPHRA’s Nancy Loucas is now urging Aussie officials to learn from New Zealand’s successes and stop its campaign against vaping.

She said: “Without adopting a tobacco harm reduction approach, as NZ has, Australia hasn’t a hope in hell at even getting close to smokefree.”

Fighting for mental health…one vape at a time

YOUTH VAPING ‘THREATENS PROGRESS’ ON UK smoke-free GOALS

Young people are increasingly aware of vape promotion on TikTok and Instagram, says major new survey.

Words: Patrick Griffin

The UK government is being urged to clamp down on illicit e-cigarette sales after a new survey revealed that more young people are experimenting with vaping.

Specialist retailer VPZ wants tighter controls and a new vape retail licensing system to discourage black market products which attract youngsters.

Its director Doug Mutter warned that increasing numbers of ‘imported, unregulated, flavoured and disposable vaping products’ were readily available from local convenience stores.

He said: “This is an emerging problem that threatens the huge progress of vaping in transforming the health of the nation and helping the country meet its smokefree targets.”

Mutter was speaking as the annual YouGov youth survey for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) was published.

This was the first time the survey asked whether children were aware of the promotion of vaping products, with over half (56 percent) saying they were.

TikTok was revealed as the most frequently cited source of online promotion (45 percent) followed by Instagram at 31 percent.

The survey showed that vaping amongst 11 to 17-year-olds was up from four percent in 2020 to seven percent this year.

In addition, 16 percent of children said they had vaped at least once, compared with 14 percent two years ago.

ASH described the scale of the change as ‘concerning’ and said that it required ‘close monitoring’.

However, on a more positive note, the survey revealed that 92 percent of under 18s who had never smoked, had also never vaped.

And while underage vaping has increased, underage smoking now stands at 14 percent - down two percentage points since 2020.

When existing child smokers were asked why they had tried vaping, reasons given included: ‘because I like the flavours’ (21 percent)

‘I enjoy the experience’ (18 percent)

‘just to give it a try’ (15 percent)

‘because I’m trying to quit smoking’ (11 percent) and

‘I use them instead of smoking’ (nine percent).

REACTION TO THE ASH YOUTH SURVEY

Ann

McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addictions, King’s College London.

“Our response must be proportionate given that smoking is a much bigger risk to the health of young people and the good evidence that e-cigarettes can be an effective stop smoking aid.

“Government should ensure existing laws are enforced and identify where regulations could be extended.

“However, this must be done alongside securing a much quicker decline in young people taking up smoking and helping more smokers to stop.”

Gillian Golden, Chief Executive, Independent British

Vape Trade Association.

“Social media platforms supposedly have policies to prevent promotion of vapes to children, but they do little to enforce them… with TikTok being the worst offender.

“Most retailers and importers don’t sell to children and want tougher enforcement to ensure that others don’t either.”

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive,

ASH.

“The laws need strengthening to prohibit childfriendly packaging and labelling of vaping products and to prevent promotion on social media. Online platforms like TikTok must act now.

“The flood of glamorous promotion of vaping on social media is completely inappropriate…these platforms should take responsibility and turn off the tap.”

John Herriman, Chief Executive, Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

“Given the particular prominence around age-restriction as a means of reducing smoking rates, in the recently published independent review of smoking by Javed Khan, additional funding is vital for trading standards, so that we can protect our communities and enforce the law.”

Doug Mutter , Director, specialist vape retailer VPZ.

“We have a challenge in the industry where imported, unregulated, flavoured and disposable vaping products are readily available from local convenience stores and supermarkets with no control or regulation.

“This is an emerging problem that threatens the huge progress of vaping in transforming the health of the nation and helping the country meet its smoke-free targets.

“We urge the government to act now and follow best practice from countries like New Zealand where products can only be sold from specialist licensed vaping stores, where a challenge 25 policy is in place and consultation is aimed towards adult smokers and vapers.”

Kate Pike , Regional Co-ordinator, Trading Standards North West:

“Funding from the Department of Health and the MHRA helped us to take action against black market importers and distributors but more funding is needed if we’re to address the scale of the problem that’s been identified.

“These businesses have been fuelling the market in non-compliant vapes and underage sales, not just in our region but all round the country.”

HEAR, HEAR!

Words: Patrick Griffin

Vape advocates hail victory as Swedish politicians vote against imposing a controversial flavour ban.

Ecstatic vapers are celebrating a huge victory for public health after plans to ban the sale of all flavoured e-liquids were thrown out by the Swedish parliament.

Had the legislation been passed, only tobacco flavours would have remained on sale and it has been estimated this could have driven 150,000 vapers back to smoking.

The World Vapers’ Alliance had orchestrated a number of highprofile campaigns urging politicians to vote against the ban as part of its EU-wide ‘Flavours matter’ campaign.

It brought an art installation to the front of the parliament building in March with the message: ‘Flavours help smokers quit!’

Two months later, it delivered an open letter to the Swedish parliament highlighting the science-backed facts which showed vaping to be a powerful harm reduction tool.

WVA supporters also marched in front of parliament with the slogan ‘Taste helps smokers quit’ to urge MPs to reject the proposed ban.

Director Michael Landl said: “Stopping the Swedish flavour ban was an AMAZING WIN for public health.

“We are immensely proud of our vaping community who joined us in Stockholm, wrote to their local MPs and supported us along the way.

“Vapers, local activists and the WVA team have done tremendous work to make their voices heard. We made politicians finally listen!”

However, despite the success, vape advocates understand that their battle to keep reduced risk products available to smokers is far from over.

As we report elsewhere in this news section, the EU Commission wants to ban all flavoured heated tobacco products and it is feared that a eurozone vape flavour ban could follow.

Seven European countries have already imposed their own flavour bans and other countries are considering following suit.

The EU is also reviewing the requirements of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and there have already been discussions about the possibility of introducing an EU-wide vape flavour ban.

Landl added: “We need to make sure that politicians listen to consumers and make decisions based on scientific evidence, which has proved that vaping is much safer than smoking and flavours are an important part of smoking cessation.”

Vape advocates also warn that any decisions taken by the EU on changing existing regulations could have a much wider impact as it would make it easier for other countries to adapt similar policies.

“

An influential group of Irish MPs has called for all vape flavours (except tobacco) to be banned, in a move which could decimate the country’s e-cigarette industry.

The Oireachtas health committee made 22 recommendations it wants to see in proposed new legislation for tobacco and e-cigarettes.

The committee has heard evidence from many interested parties including Vape Business Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation and others.

Committee chair Seán Crowe said: “Significant evidence came to light regarding the harms of e-cigarettes, particularly for adolescents and young adults.

“Evidence was also provided about growing trends of vaping among teenagers and the easy accessibility and marketing of such products, with the use of brightly-coloured packaging and flavours as well as the use of online marketing to attract younger people to these products.”

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED:

· All e-cigarette flavours (except for tobacco) should be strictly prohibited so as not to entice minors.

· Measures to restrict the use of brightly coloured packaging and further regulation in the form of plain packaging restrictions should be implemented.

All forms of e-cigarette advertising and promotions, including on billboards, online on all social media platforms, and influencer marketing methods should be prohibited.

· The harms associated with the consumption of e-cigarettes should be communicated to the public in a simple and effective manner and

· The sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18 should be restricted.

Vape advocates universally support banning vape sales to under 18s, but dispute much of the rest of the Committee’s findings.

Michael Landl, Director of World Vapers’ Alliance, said: “Banning flavours would spell disaster for smokers who want to quit, current vapers, and public health because flavours help former smokers stay away from cigarettes forever.

“Scientific data shows that vapers who use flavours are twice as likely to quit smoking as those who use tobacco flavours.

“A flavour ban could push 115,000 Irish vapers back to smoking. Therefore, we urge policymakers to listen to science and treat vaping accordingly.”

He also opposed the imposition of advertising restrictions and plain packaging for vape products adding: “Advertisement restrictions and plain packaging for vaping prevent crucial information from reaching consumers about the relative risks of different products.

Vape Business Ireland expressed ‘deep concern’ about the proposals, which it said would delay implementation of an under 18 vaping ban.

Spokesperson Eoin O’Boyle said: “As an industry, we are deeply concerned that some of the proposed recommendations will delay

the enactment of the legislation, which could undermine its whole purpose.

“The report prioritised claims from stakeholders who pointed to outdated evidence, as well as research which falls short of international standards.”

The Irish Heart Foundation, however, welcomed banning flavours, saying it would prevent young people from vaping.

IHF advocacy officer Mark Murphy said: “Vape manufacturers clearly use flavours – and research has identified thousands of them – that they know will attract minors.

“Many products are sold in bright, attractive packaging with cartoon characters designed to entice young people.”

A flavour ban could push 115,000 Irish vapers back to smoking. Therefore, we urge policymakers to listen to science and treat vaping accordingly.

Extraordinary and unlawful’

Words: Patrick Griffin

When US regulators effectively banned all of JUUL’s flavoured vape products from sale, it was clear the company was not going to take it lying down.

Lawyers were consulted as soon as the marketing denial orders were issued and were quick to fight the move in court.

JUUL said the Food and Drug Administration’s decisions were ‘extraordinary and unlawful’ and filed an emergency motion before a federal appeals court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the company could keep selling its products while it challenged the FDA’s decision.

Then, following the appeal court ruling, the FDA changed tack and suspended its original order against JUUL to allow it time to give additional consideration to ‘scientific issues unique to this application’.

The regulator had been under intense pressure to ban JUUL products by well-funded anti-vaping groups who said the ban was needed to

protect children.

When the MDO was made, FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said of JUUL devices: “We recognise these make up a significant part of the available products and many have played a disproportionate role in the rise in youth vaping.”

However, Charles A Gardner, Executive Director at the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations, took exactly the opposite view.

He tweeted: “The FDA's decision will cause >100,000 adult deaths from smoking. US teen use of JUUL is nearly nil and does not cause deaths.”

Perhaps predictably, US tobacco control group Truth Initiative praised the regulator for scoring a ‘major public health victory’ and called for similar action against other vape brands.

Truth

Initiative CEO Robin Koval said: “Today’s

FDA decision to deny approval for JUUL vape products perfectly illustrates tobacco harm reduction divisions, as regulator is both criticised – and praised – for the move.

announcement will save lives and protect millions of teens and young adults from the harms of nicotine use and risks of addiction.

“By holding JUUL accountable and prioritizing public health over corporate profiteering, the FDA is making the right decision – one that we, with our public health partners, have been urgently calling for.”

Koval added: “Now that the FDA has taken action on the brand that ignited the youth vaping epidemic, the agency must act without further delay on the other e-cigarette products that are continuing to target youth.

“The agency must immediately prioritise completing its review of the top brands that make up the majority of the total e-cigarette market and are most popular among

youth, including Vuse Alto, Logic, NJOY, Blu and newcomer Elf Bar.”

Meanwhile, vape retailers say that even if JUUL is banned from the US market, customers will simply transition to other products.

The FDA's decision will cause >100,000 adult deaths from smoking. US teen use of JUUL is nearly nil and does not cause deaths.

Words: Patrick Griffin

Dental science experts hit back after false claims that vaping causes oral damage and cancer.

Two food science lecturers have come under fire for publishing a study in the British Dental Journal which falsely claims that vaping causes tooth damage.

The duo, from Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Sport and Health Science, falsely claimed that e-cigarettes were associated with cancer.

They also cited a World Health Organization poster which wrongly claimed that nicotine caused a 'high risk of oral and whole-body health complications'.

The claims were debunked by Newcastle University vaping and dentistry experts Dr Richard Holliday, Professor Elaine McColl, Anthony Weke, and Zella Sayeed.

The four wrote to the British Dental Journal to say they were 'disappointed to see several basic errors and misrepresentations’ in the paper titled 'Erosive potential of commonly available vapes: a cause for concern?’

Tobacco harm reduction advocate Nancy Loucas praised their stance saying: “They have done us all a favour by speaking the truth and smashing the latest lie against vaping.

“The fact that two food science lecturers were able to get their claims published in the first place is surprising, but thankfully they’ve now been sent down the road.”

what did the original paper get wrong?

The Newcastle team highlighted 'five major errors' in the Cardiff paper and said the report authors:

1 incorrectly claimed that nicotine caused a 'high risk of oral and whole-body health complications'. They pointed out that nicotine has been used in the form of NRT for over 30 years and is regarded as extremely safe, even for long-term use

2. were wrong to claim that e-cigarettes were associated with cancer, highlighting that their supporting reference did not make the claim and actually stated that 'no long-term evidence related to oral and systemic health effects exists.'

3. wrongly stated that 'diacetyl is found in most flavoured vapes' and reminded them that diacetyl is banned in the UK for use in vaping products.

4. grossly misrepresented the public health guidance on e-cigarette use as a smoking cessation device and also highlighted that:

5. e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and should not be categorised as such.

Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, added: “The food science lecturers’ biggest mistake was talking up the WHO’s anti-vaping stance as the official public health position.

“Tellingly, all UK public bodies, including the NHS, ignore the WHO’s advice. They support vaping, knowing it does not erode teeth nor lead to gum disease.

“Once again science and human evidence have trumped another untenable ideological lie about vaping.”

So

Vaping

LEAVE ALONE... BUT HIT TOBACCO HARD

Words: Patrick Griffin

New Zealand MPs are being urged to stay strong and resist new pressure to hit vaping with tougher regulatory measures.

Harm reduction advocate Nancy Loucas fears upcoming parliamentary debates to change smoking laws could see increasing attacks on e-cigarettes from anti-vaping campaigners.

Kiwi politicians are debating proposals which would significantly limit the sale of smoked tobacco products and ban their sale to anyone born after January 1, 2009.

Loucas, executive coordinator for tobacco harm reduction group CAPHRA, warned: “To achieve its decade long Smokefree 2025 ambition, New Zealand must stay the course when it comes to vaping regulation.

“The focus for MPs now must be on hitting tobacco hard and not to add new rules and restrictions on vaping.”

She added: “Organisations with questionable foreign funding links, will do their darndest during select committee submissions to promote more vaping restrictions, but vaping is not the problem.

“Not one New Zealander has reportedly died from vaping, yet about 5,000 Kiwis die every year from smoking-related illnesses.

New Zealand is seen as one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to adopting sensible, evidencebased vaping laws.

However, anti-vaping groups regularly call for tougher restrictions to prevent youth vaping.

Loucas said more laws were not needed and called for stricter enforcement of existing regulations instead.

She said: “Any knee-jerk reaction to add new punitive measures now won’t lead to fewer minors vaping but would make it harder for adult smokers to switch to safer nicotine products.

“The vaping regulations were debated to death more than two years ago. Now it’s smoking’s turn.”

Kiwi politicians advised to resist pressure to clampdown on vaping as they debate introducing tougher tobacco-control measures.

“This is why we are asking MPs to keep their eyes on the prize in the coming months.”

“

Speakers

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping

David Hunt Senior Trading Standards Officer, Hackney Council

Dr. Colin Mendelsohn Tobacco Treatment Expert & Author

James Lowman Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores

Owen Good Head of Economic Advisory, Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)

Mike Sawyer Head of Product Enforcement, Office for Product Safety & Standards

Dr. Pippa Bailey Head of Climate Change & Sustainability Practice, IPSOS Mori

OR life death

More than one billion lives could be saved through vaping…if it can navigate a multi-million-dollar obstacle course of ‘lies’ and ‘disinformation’.

EXCLUSIVE report: Jordan Millar

In an exclusive interview with Vapouround, harm reduction champion Charles A Gardner warned of a multi-milliondollar conspiracy against vaping.

He claimed there’s an international campaign of ‘disinformation and lies’, set to smear public perceptions of e-cigarettes…and its largely financed by American billionaire Michael Bloomberg.

Gardner explained that Bloomberg – as well as anti-vaping tobacco control body Truth Initiative – has spent millions to ‘push harm reduction denialist messages in the media’.

He said: “Current global efforts to deny 1.3 billion people –who use toxic forms of tobacco – access to safer nicotine alternatives is a form of mass murder.

“Almost all of us have lost a loved one to smoking and almost all of us have experienced health improvements after we quit, this is neither a game nor personal affection.

“Access to harm reduction is a human right, a social justice imperative, a life-or-death issue.”

The head of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations stressed how wide-reaching Bloomberg’s influence was, saying that he funds around 50 nonprofit tobacco control groups across the world.

However, it may be the philanthropist and businessman’s close relationship with the WHO that could be the biggest cause for alarm.

In the recently-released ‘Bloomberg, World Health Organization and the Vaping Misinfodemic’ report, Gardner questioned just how deep this connection goes.

He highlighted allegations that the anti-vaping billionaire was swaying tobacco control policy, echoing questions over whether the WHO was ‘sufficiently independent’ from Bloomberg’s influence.

Speaking to Vapouround, he said: “The general assumption in the World Health Organization is that if you say the words ‘harm reduction’, you must be under industry influence.

“And yet, the WHO – along with dozens and dozens of nonprofits around the world – are all funded by Michael Bloomberg, a known and avowed harm reduction denier.

“If our vaccine information was funded by an American billionaire anti-vaxxer, journalists would be alarmed.”

Gardner added that there is a ‘legitimate debate’ in public health between those who support harm reduction and those who prefer a precautionary approach…but that conversation could well be tainted.

He said: “When you have organisations that only take one side of that debate – who are funded by a billionaire who only takes one side of the debate - and never declare this as a potential conflict of interest, it’s a profound violation of public trust.

“I’ve worked in HIV AIDS, TB, malaria, rabies, nutrition, child health and early childhood development issues, so I can look at the field of tobacco control and see it from the outside.

“And it’s bonkers…I’ve never seen anything like this level of disinformation and deliberate lies.”

The INNCO executive director explained that, in spite of Bloomberg’s efforts, there are more than a hundred organisations around the world that have spoken out in support of vaping.

And the message remains clear; if vapes are less harmful than cigarettes, we should encourage smokers to make the switch.

Gardner said: “They’re all saying the same thing; if they’re safer then we should be promoting these to adult smokers…and not doing so is a form of negligent homicide.”

He added that, even if they were only ‘10 percent safer’, vaping should be an option for smokers, but emphasised that anyone who ‘understands the evidence’ would tell you they’re 95 percent less harmful.

In fact, Gardner is so confident about the lifesaving potential of vaping and the lack of evidence that it poses a deadly threat, that he’s willing to put money on the table. Along with dozens of ex-smokers, he is offering a growing prize of $3,600 to anyone with ‘confirmed evidence of one death ever caused by nicotine vapor’ over the past 20 years.

But despite initially offering up the cash in January –starting at just $100 - and there being 82 million ‘adult nicotine vapers’ across the globe, nobody has yet to claim the reward.

To read more on this, check out our story ‘A fistful of dollars…for anyone with evidence that vaping kills’ later in this issue.

Vaping IS a safer alternative to smoking and global efforts to block it are a form of ‘mass murder’, says a leading activist.

Access to harm reduction is a human right, a social justice imperative, a life or death issue.

IS THE SHINING LIGHT OF HARM REDUCTION GOING DARK?

A blitz of erroneous and misleading UK news stories have branded vaping a public health menace… but how much truth is there to the wild and panic-fuelled rumours?

Words: Jordan Millar and Patrick Griffin

Make no mistake, vaping is under attack in the UK and it looks like it’s only going to get worse… much worse.

Vaping has always received a bad press in mainstream media and it’s commonplace to see a steady trickle of scare stories, bad science and a callous disregard for the truth. But now that trickle has become a torrent and the UK is beginning to see the same kind of anti-vaping hysteria that has plagued the US for years.

In recent weeks the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Guardian, LADbible and others, have all reported on the horrors of ‘popcorn lung’ – a killer

disease wrongly linked to vaping.

The Daily Mail’s headline screamed: “Expert warns that up to 95 percent of people who develop severe 'popcorn lung' as a result of vaping will DIE within five years of developing the disease.”

A week later, it returned to the same theme with this even scarier headline: “Primary school students are now VAPING at school as experts sound the alarm about ‘horrific’ popcorn lung that kills up to 95 per cent of sufferers.”

Terrifying stuff indeed and, if true, would surely cast serious doubt on whether vaping is a viable alternative to smoking.

At the very least it would make smokers think again when it came to switching…and there is evidence that this is already happening.

WHAT IS POPCORN LUNG AND ARE VAPERS AT RISK?

Words: Patrick Griffin

Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is a rare disease which leads to a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs and obstructs airflow.

It was named when popcorn factory workers became ill after breathing in chemicals including diacetyl, which gives the snack its buttery flavour.

The UK has banned diacetyl for flavouring e-liquids and therefore it’s not found in any commercially-manufactured product on the market.

Cancer Research UK says e-cigarettes do not cause the condition, highlighting that there have been ‘no confirmed cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e-cigarettes’.

The UK Health Security Agency said: “Diacetyl had been detected in some e-liquid flavourings in the past, but at levels hundreds of times lower than in cigarette smoke.

“Even at these levels, smoking is not a major risk factor for this rare disease.”

But while the scientific evidence says diacetyl will not cause ‘popcorn lung’ in vapers, the Daily Mail chose to run a sensationalist story which said the opposite.

It wrote: “While some may see vape and e-cigarette devices as safe alternatives to cigarettes, experts warn that users can develop the devastating condition 'popcorn lung' - and that those who suffer the most severe case are unlikely to survive.”

Charles A. Gardner, Executive Director of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO) said: “The UK public should understand they’re being had; the flood of negative reporting – including attempts to revive the long-debunked ‘popcorn lung’ lie – is troubling.

“And it is a lie, there’s no other way to describe it, it is a highly effective prohibitionist meme and not even remotely true.

“The scary thing is that they know it's a lie and still push it.”

Gardner added: “What's going on in the UK press now looks very similar to what has been happening in the United States for many years.”

IS THE END NIGH FOR UK VAPING?

Words: Jordan Millar

The recent barrage of doom-spreading stories seems to have shaken the UK’s faith in lifesaving e-cigarettes, potentially undoing years of smokefree efforts.

Advocates who once celebrated the nation’s science-first, progressive stance on vaping are now asking if the shining light for harm reduction is at risk of going dark.

Michael Landl of the World Vapers’ Alliance said the flood of misinformation and debunked health risk claims came ‘out of nowhere’ and hopes the ‘anti-vaping media wave ebbs away quickly’.

The WVA director said: “The UK has proven that vaping works when it comes to smoking cessation and is a beacon of hope for millions of consumers worldwide.

“It is a mystery why some public health actors and the media are jeopardising this…too many lives are at stake.

“The UK’s pioneering vaping approach is saving lives, not ruining them.”

The question now for many is whether the UK vaping community will weather the storm and continue to save lives or fall victim to recycled attacks from the US war on e-cigarettes.

YOUTH VAPING HYSTERIA: Fact or fiction?

Words: Jordan Millar

Another hot topic dominating national headlines is the raging youth epidemic seemingly tearing its way across the country.

Everyday there appears to be yet another ‘shock horror’ news story, painting images of a nicotine-addicted child army ransacking parents’ bags and local stores in the hunt for their next hit.

Fearful mums, dads, teachers and a handful of health professionals are now on high alert, judging vaping less as an antidote to the UK’s smoking crisis and more a public health catastrophe in the making.

But is there any truth to the growing warnings, or is this yet another false alarm set to dismantle the harm reduction industry?

Unlike popcorn lung, there IS evidence that young people are accessing e-cigarettes.

Action on Smoking and Health revealed the number of ‘current users’ amongst 11 to 17-year-olds had almost doubled in two years.

And that’s the statistic that you’ve likely seen quoted in the recent onslaught of negative vaping stories…but that’s not the only thing the ASH report had to say.

The document highlighted that more than 80 percent of 11 to 17-year-olds had, in fact, ‘never tried or were unaware of e-cigarettes’.

It also suggested that regular vaping ‘remains rare’ amongst youngsters who’ve never smoked, with just 0.5 percent using them on a weekly basis.

Amazingly, not a single young vaper who’d

never previously smoked said they were actually ‘addicted’ to e-cigarettes, with many saying they just wanted to ‘give them a try’… another seldom reported statistic.

Ultimately, the ASH report confirmed that, while ‘awareness of e-cigarettes is high’, regular use is still ‘very low’.

It said that vaping is largely confined to current or former smokers and use amongst young never smokers is ‘mostly experimental’.

Naturally, this creates a better image of the ‘child hooking’ vape industry than all those scare stories would have you believe…but make no mistake, as long as children are accessing e-cigarettes, there is an issue to address.

And it’s an issue that could spiral out of control if not handled correctly.

We’ve already seen a similar youth vaping moral panic ravage the US, leaving many brands struggling to stay afloat and many more wiped from the face of the earth.

The situation is so volatile that there are growing reports of young people being strip searched by school staff or brutalised by police for as little as being suspected of carrying a vape device.

If the UK follows the American anti-vaping playbook, there’s a real chance that opinions of lifesaving e-cigarettes could be soured and we may well criminalise a community of ex-smokers just looking to take back their health.

Advocates and experts are now saying enforcement is the solution to the youth vaping problem and NOT blacklisting vaping as nothing more than a tool to addict kids.

To ‘find the right balance’ between helping smokers quit and bringing an end to youth vaping, the UKVIA has proposed a number of hard-line regulations that hold ‘unscrupulous’ retailers and distributors accountable.

The recommendations included a new licensing scheme and hefty £10,000 penalties for ‘rogue traders’ who flout UK law.

John Dunne of the UKVIA, said more is needed to bear down on those selling to minors and the industry, regulators and enforcement bodies must come together to keep vapes out of the wrong hands.

The UK Vaping Industry Association Director General said: “Make no mistake, the issue of youth access to vaping sits firmly with unscrupulous traders who are happy to sell to children.

“To combat rising numbers of children vaping, the supply of vapes to the underaged has to be cut off at source.

“Together, these actions will help vaping fulfil the vital role that the recently published Khan review sees for the category in making smoking obsolete in the most responsible manner.”

To read more on the UKVIA’s ‘get tough’ measures, see the story ‘Everyone has a role to play when it comes to preventing youth access to vapes’ later in this issue.

Hundreds have now taken to social media to offer their thoughts on the ‘popcorn lung’ rumours and youth vaping concerns, hitting back at the news stories dragging vaping through the mud.

HERE’S WHAT JUST A FEW HAD TO SAY…

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Words: Patrick Griffin

Full compliance with UK vaping regulations is required from all sectors of the market as the spotlight turns to underage and illegal sales, an industry expert has warned.

Vaping is under scrutiny like never before in the wake of the Khan review into the Government’s 2030 smokefree ambitions which proposed a raft of new measures including that vaping should be offered as a substitute to smoking.

Lee Bryan, managing director of Arcus Compliance Ltd, said smaller convenience stores in particular, must expect much closer examination from regulators. He was speaking as a wave of negative publicity in the mainstream media focused on youth vaping in

the UK and on (inaccurate) stories about health concerns associated with e-cigarettes.

Bryan cautioned that ‘full regulatory compliance’ was critical across the entire supply chain and added that smaller convenience stores were particularly vulnerable.

He said retailers, wholesalers and distributors must ensure that only adults could buy vape products and that non-compliant and counterfeit goods were not sold.

Bryan, who makes regulatory filings on behalf of vaping industry clients, added: “In a fast-growing market, the consumer is now more knowledgeable and not so reliant on purchasing from specialist vape stores.

“There is a major opportunity for a responsible vape sector to play a pivotal role in the smokefree ambitions of the Government.”

He said the industry backed imposing vape licenses for retailers and £10,000 fines for those caught trading illegally.

1M FAKE VAPES SEIZED

Words:

More than one million counterfeit disposable vapes have been seized as ELFBAR doubles down on efforts to protect consumers from sub-standard, illegal products.

Most of the huge haul was destined for the UK and company bosses warn that the fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to trick consumers.

ELFBAR said it had a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on fake products and had been working closely with the Chinese authorities to close down more than 20 counterfeit factories.

The company is also targeting domains that attempt to clone their website with names such as Elfdar.com and Elfba.com.

Chief Executive Victor Xaio said: “ELFBAR, as a socially responsible brand, will continue the efforts to defeat counterfeits and protect the health of our customers.

“The fraudsters are getting increasingly sophisticated and setting up fake websites that look just like the ELFBAR official site, which could mislead consumers.

“Whilst we are locating spoof sites and taking them down, we caution our customers that the fraudsters may continue to set up new domains.”

Xaio added: “We have a zero tolerance to counterfeits as they impact on our reputation and bring major health hazards to vapers due to their lack of quality control.

“These products do not meet our quality standards, which comply with robust regulatory requirements as set out in the Tobacco Products Directive and The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations.”

The company has also run a #SayNoToFakeELFBAR social media campaign to help consumers avoid being a victim of the fraudsters.

Warning that convenience stores will face increasing scrutiny as regulators get tough on illicit vape sales.

As counterfeiters use increasingly sophisticated methods to trick the public, one company is determined to shut them down.

Patrick Griffin

EVERYONE HAS ROLE TO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTING YOUTH ACCESS TO VAPES

UK

Words:

John Dunne, Director General, UKVIA

What used to be an issue discussed and addressed within the sector has spilled out into mainstream media, with the likes of Sky News, ITV, the BBC and most other national papers focusing in on youth vaping.

But let’s be honest…the headlines don’t make great reading at all.

Make no mistake, the real villains are the utterly unscrupulous retailers and individuals who are more than happy to sell to kids and make a quick buck.

If we are to combat rising numbers of underage vaping, then the supply of e-cigarettes to children must be cut off at the source.

Regulators, the education sector, enforcement bodies and, of course, the industry all have a responsibility to prevent vapes from falling into the wrong hands.

We cannot just stand back and say it’s not our problem.

A recent survey found that the proportion of children aged 11-17 who vape has risen from four percent in 2020 to seven percent this year.

It also revealed that disposable vapes are now the most popular products amongst 52 percent of underage vapers.

The UKVIA has very publicly called for a range of get-tough measures to crack down on these rogue traders who sell vapes to children and young people, including fines of £10,000 and a national retail licencing scheme.

At the same time we are working with the relevant authorities to identify the distributors and retailers that continue to peddle potentially dangerous non-compliant vape goods.

These crucial issues and more will be among the topics of debate at our upcoming Vaping Industry Forum and Exhibition at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London on Friday September 9.

The ‘Vaping for a Better Future’ conference is expected to attract some 300 delegates, including vape executives, parliamentarians, healthcare practitioners, smoking cessation experts and academics.

It follows the ground-breaking Khan Review – a governmentcommissioned independent review into tobacco control policies –which endorsed vaping’s front and centre role in meeting England’s smokefree 2030 target.

It will also look at how the sector can maximise its public health, economic and social benefits.

What’s more, the industry’s first ever economic impact report, conducted by the Centre for Economics & Business Research (CEBR), will be unveiled at the event.

I’m very proud to say this year’s Vaping Industry Forum is set to be the biggest yet, coming at an exciting time for the sector, especially in the wake of the Khan Review.

For more information about the Forum, including details about how to buy tickets and sponsorship opportunities, go to www.ukvia.co.uk.

The real villains are the utterly unscrupulous retailers and individuals who are more than happy to sell vapes to kids and make themselves a quick buck.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months, you’ll know that preventing young people from accessing vape products is the new hot industry topic.

CHARGE!

E-cigarettes are the latest force powering the Ukrainian war effort as resourceful volunteers are retrofitting vape batteries into carrier drones

Words: Jordan Millar

But six months later and the nation is still holding strong, answering the Russian invasion with unbridled patriotism and a thirst for freedom.

Despite facing a massive armed force – an estimated 15 times that of Ukraine’s – people rolled up their sleeves, pulling together scraps and spare parts in a makeshift military response.

The war quickly inspired a DIY race to arms, with people mixing homemade Molotov cocktails and building tank traps to protect their country…and now vaping has been drafted into the fight.

To help Ukrainian forces fend off enemy soldiers, a resourceful group of volunteers has taken to fuelling much-needed weapons with recycled e-cigarettes.

The team harvests the valuable lithium batteries from disposable vapes, repurposing them to power drone release systems that deliver critical supplies and explosives to the battlefield.

Led by PhD student Maksym Sheremet, the 60 strong ‘Drone Labs’ organisation has already produced hundreds of the machines, with 30 volunteers dedicated exclusively to repurposing e-cigarette batteries.

And as the war with Russia rages on, Sheremet says there are thousands more units ‘in the pipeline’.

In an interview with The Independent, he said: “Lithium batteries used to cost $1 each, but went up five times in price adding significantly to our costs.

“So we started powering dropping systems from the batteries in disposable e-cigarettes…it’s free, easy and environmentally friendly because we are recycling.”

Sheremet and his team have already salvaged thousands of disposable vapes, even setting up collection bins where students and staff can donate waste devices at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

The 26-year-old engineer added that Drone Labs only works from ‘donations and private investment’, meaning it doesn’t have to charge the military anything for its vape-fuelled drop-systems.

The innovative e-cigarette project comes after the Ukrainian military cried out for more drones, calling on citizens to contribute their highflying gadgets to the war effort.

Sheremet said developing the cost-effective tech was his way to help defend the country, choosing to support Ukrainian troops with his mind and not a weapon.

He said: “We have students, engineers and volunteer programs; it’s very easy to solder this stuff, it is not a difficult job.

When Russian troops stormed into Ukraine earlier this year, many believed the war would last a matter of weeks…or even days.

“There are people who want to help and don’t know how to shoot a rifle… our brain is our weapon.”

““

MORE PUFFS MORE POWER

FAILING TO DELIVER

World Health Organization is lold that its 15-year-old tobacco control strategy will not work unless it embraces modern, reduced risk alternatives.

Words: Patrick Griffin

The independent research concluded there was no clear association between low levels of tobacco-related deaths in Europe and the WHO’s ‘MPOWER’ strategy.

MPOWER is the global health body’s six-pronged strategy to tobacco control.

It sets out to:

Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use,

Warn about the dangers of tobacco,

Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and

Raise taxes on tobacco.

Critics point out that despite MPOWER being launched 15 years ago, the total number of smokers has remained unchanged since 2000.

Distinguished tobacco dependence researcher Dr Lars M. Ramström, said the failure to bring smoking numbers down is partly due to the WHO’s refusal to embrace reduced risk modern alternatives to cigarettes.

His study was launched at the GFN conference which took place in Warsaw, Poland, in June and attracted hundreds of delegates including more than 50 international experts on nicotine and tobacco.

Dr Ramström, Principal Investigator at the Institute of Tobacco Studies, said: “My research demonstrates that MPOWER is not working as it should in Europe.

“It also shows that switching to Swedish-style snus is a more effective strategy to reduce tobacco-related mortality than the

tobacco control measures endorsed by the WHO.

“The key to reducing tobacco-related mortality is the transition from combustible cigarettes to safer nicotine products, which include not just Swedish-style snus but also vapes, tobacco-free nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products.

He added: “The WHO and others must heed modern science. They need to move from rejecting tobacco harm reduction to promoting it.

“Governments can also play their part by adopting rates of taxation that make low-risk products cheaper than cigarettes and the ban of snus in the EU must be overturned.”

Gerry Stimson, Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London and co-founder of the Global Forum on Nicotine accused the WHO of ‘failing to deliver’ on tobacco control.

He said: “Adoption of safer nicotine is a low-cost intervention that is reducing smoking, while the standard package recommended by the WHO to governments worldwide is not.

“The WHO and all governments must follow the evidence on harm reduction in order to realise the huge potential of safer nicotine products, the availability of which can help bring about an end to smoking.”

He challenged the health body to ‘encourage smokers to switch to safer nicotine products’ and to ‘deliver’ accurate information about safer alternatives’.

The Global Forum on Nicotine, now in its ninth year, is the only international conference to focus on the role of safer nicotine products to help people switch from smoking.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Tobacco Harm Reduction: here for good’ and the packed conference programme was attended by policymakers, medical professionals, academics and those who had successfully quit smoking by switching to safer alternatives.

A MAJOR NEW STUDY LAUNCHED AT THE GLOBAL FORUM ON NICOTINE HAD A SIMPLE MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: “UNLIKE YOUR FAILING TOBACCO CONTROL MEASURES, HARM REDUCTION WORKS.”

““

Multi-Award Winning

VAPOUROUND

A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS… FOR ANYONE WHO PROVES VAPING KILLS

In true cowboy fashion, Charles A. Gardner placed a growing bounty on proof that vaping is deadly…but does anyone have the guts – or evidence – to claim the prize?

Words: Jordan Millar

Let’s be honest, we’ve all imagined saddling up a horse, donning our best Eastwood-esque glare and riding off on a Wild West inspired adventure.

But while many of our cowboying dreams will sadly remain a fantasy, there’s one harm reduction champion who is on a very real mission to protect the good name of vaping.

Though he may be missing the staple holster, 10-gallon hat and seemingly ever-present cigarette, make no mistake that Charles A. Gardner truly has the same grit as those western heroes of old.

Daring the anti-vaping lobby to put its money where its mouth is, the vocal advocate recently called on anyone who can actually prove

the supposed ‘deadly effects’ of e-cigarettes.

And to sweeten the deal, he even offered a lucrative reward for evidence of ‘just one verified human death’ ever caused by inhaling legal vaping products.

We first reported on this bold challenge in Issue 37 of Vapouround, when the prize pot sat at a modest $1,700.

However, this number has more than doubled, with Gardner and a posse of like-minded ex-smokers now pledging $3,600 to the charity of choice for anyone who can show e-cigarettes pose a threat.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Gardner, head of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO), has had no takers.

He tweeted: “Dear Mike Bloomberg and Robin Koval, these funds could help top up your multi-billion-dollar foundation endowments.

“We are not big tobacco; this is all we can scrape together…but I assume you could accept cash donations from ex-smokers who have day jobs and no ties to the industry.”

Gardner suggested that a ‘$210 million per year’ propaganda campaign may well be to blame for the widely believed ‘myth’ that legal vaping products are life-threatening.

He also stressed that one death amongst an international community of 82 million would still make vaping the ‘safest consumer product ever invented’.

Coincidently, during his free time, the INNCO boss is now channeling his inner cowboy, watching flicks featuring perhaps the most famous silver screen western hero in historyJohn Wayne.

Vaping haters don’t seem to know they can easily make a quick pile of cash providing credible evidence of even a single death from vaping nicotine

““

IT’S VERY GOOD EVIDENCE OF TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION IF YOU CAN RIDE A BICYCLE ACROSS THE ALPS AS A VAPER

WHEEL GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS

A harm reduction leader proved the health-boosting potential of e-cigarettes after he cycled across the Alps on a mammoth European pro-vaping journey.

Words: Jordan Millar

There are millions of advocates scattered across the globe who are willing to do just about anything to promote the public health power of vaping

But how many would be ready to cycle 700km through unpredictable weather, gruelling inclines and busted tires in the name of harm reduction?

Well two daring bikers did just that, pedalling their way across the Alps from Italy to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to ‘showcase the harm reduction potential’ of e-cigarettes.

During the marathon Ride4Vape campaign, Umberto Roccatti of the Independent European Vaping Association and an unnamed companion made a number of high-profile pit stops.

The pair even called into the World Health Organization HQ in Geneva, delivering a strong message – and a USB packed with provaping science – to the body that so vehemently stands against the reduced risk alternative.

While at the WHO headquarters, Roccatti gave a ‘love actually’ inspired presentation, silently holding up a series of cards detailing the benefits of e-cigarettes and urging nay-sayers to rethink their position.

The IEVA vice-chairman’s demonstration warned that 700,000 smokers in Europe – and eight million globally – die every year…a harrowing statistic that could be reduced through the quittingpower of e-cigarettes.

It read: “More than 90 percent of smokers worldwide can’t or don’t want to quit and public health strategies aren’t effective for them.

“Vaping is scientifically proven to be 95 percent less harmful than

smoking; it could be the perfect risk reduction strategy.

“I was a heavy smoker and now I can cycle 250km a day; thanks to vaping, my health renormalised…and millions have experienced the same thing.”

He continued: “Vaping is not smoking; let’s differentiate the policies, let’s differentiate the rules and let’s differentiate the laws.”

Roccatti also stressed that you shouldn’t vape if you don’t smoke or if you’re a minor, adding that it’s ‘much cooler to ride a bike instead’.

When he finally arrived in Strasbourg after four muscle melting days of cycling, Roccatti wasted no time, jumping into meetings before he even had chance to change out of his bright orange gear.

He – very deservedly - sat down with Members of the European Parliament to ‘discuss vaping regulation’ and demonstrate the benefits of e-cigarettes, offering his expert perspective on future harm reduction policy.

Roccatti said: “Our journey was exhausting but successful, the Alps challenged us, but we were able to conquer them.

“With this tour, we want to concretely show that by switching to vaping, someone like me can nomalise their health, change their lifestyle and successfully exercise.”

He added: “It’s very good evidence of tobacco harm reduction if you can ride a bicycle across the Alps as a vaper…with my previous smoking lungs, this feat would not have been possible.”

This is the third and largest iteration of the Ride4Vape tour, with the first two limited to Italy and this one branching out across Europe.

THE UKVIA VAPING INDUSTRY FORUM 2022

- A “HISTORY IN THE MAKING EVENT”

ACCORDING TO JOHN DUNNE , THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UKVIA: “THIS YEAR’S VAPING INDUSTRY FORUM IS A ‘HISTORY IN THE MAKING EVENT.’

It comes at a critical time for the industry when the government-commissioned independent review by Javed Khan has highlighted that vaping has a pivotal role to play in making smoking obsolete.

In addition, the delivery of a new Tobacco Control Plan presents an opportunity for the Government to positively review the vaping regulatory landscape post-Brexit.

Says Dunne: “The next few months are

absolutely key for the sector - it will shape our industry for years to come.”

However, Dunne and the industry are extremely conscious that the sector has some challenges that it needs to sort out proactively to show that it is well placed to play a leading and responsible role in helping the government realise its smokefree 2030 ambitions.

That’s why the Forum agenda is dominated by discussions around some of the key challenges that the industry is facing, namely the threat of disproportionate regulation, prevention of youth access to vapes, enforcement and compliance in relation to non-UK compliant products, and

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS:

• Mark Pawsey, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping

• Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping

• Dr Colin Mendelsohn, Tobacco Treatment Expert & Author

• David Cartridge, Tobacco Addiction Specialist, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

• Dr Sudhanshu Patwardhan, Director, Centre for Health Research and Education, University of Southampton Science Park

• Alexander Kvitashvili, Public Health Adviser, Consumer Choice Centre

• Azim Chowdhury, US Vaping Regulation Attorney

• Andrew Chevis, Chief Executive, CitizenCard

• Mike Sawyer, Head of Product Enforcement, Office for Product

Safety & Standards

• David Hunt, Senior Trading Standards Officer, Hackney Council

• James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores

• Adrian Simpson, Retail Products Policy Adviser, British Retail Consortium

• Jason Birks, President, Federation of Independent Retailers

• Owen Good, Head of Economic Advisory, Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)

• Shane MacGuill, Global Lead, Nicotine and Cannabis, Euromonitor

• Doug Mutter, Manufacturing & Compliance Director, VPZ

• Dan Marchant, Founder and Joint Owner, Vape Club

• Damian Stevens, Business Development Manager, 1account

the industry’s track record in sustainability.

Says Dunne: “The major themes at the Forum are all areas that the industry is quite rightly coming under scrutiny for and we need to be taking action to address these aspects.

“This year’s event won’t just be about delegates listening to the panel debates and keynotes, it will be about co-designing and formulating action plans in each of these areas so that we continue to grow up as an industry and grow the reputation of vaping amongst the seven million smokers in the UK.”

• Dr Pippa Bailey, Head of Climate Change & Sustainability Practice, IPSOS Mori

• Siyang Yu, Global Marketing Manager, SMOK

• Stewart Price, Scheme Manager, Waste Experts

• Ben Johnson. Founder and CEO, Riot Labs

• Dr Rachel Murkett, Project Director (Life Sciences), Biochromix

• Jeannie Cameron, JCIC International

• Dr Marina Murphy, Scientific Communications & Engagement Expert

• Autumn Bernal, Founder, Toxic Creative

• Bridget Gildea, Consultant for Public Good

VAPING FOR BETTER HEALTH:

This will explore how the healthcare estate and profession can play a key role in speeding up the realisation of the massive public health prize presented by vaping.

GAINING A REPUTATION FOR RESPONSIBILITYPRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT (PART 1):

This will debate the industry’s biggest risk – the sale of vape products to minors as well as those which are either non-compliant with UK regulations or are counterfeits.

GAINING A REPUTATION FOR RESPONSIBILITY –PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT (PART 2):

Doug Mutter, a director of VPZ, the largest independent vape retail chain in the UK and headline sponsor of the event, says: “It’s key that the industry tackles the challenges head on.

“We have been given a golden opportunity to play a major role in creating what would have been unthinkable at the beginning of this century - making smoking history.

“Let’s seize that opportunity with both hands, starting with a number of action plans that arise from the Forum. As the headline sponsor we look forward to seeing everyone at the Forum.”

The Forum will also include a B2B exhibition and will be followed by a Vaping Celebration Dinner and the Recognition

Awards. These awards will recognise those individuals and organisations who have done so much to promote and progress the sector.

Sponsors for the Forum include VPZ, FEELM, Geek Bar, 1account and Arcus Compliance at the time of going to press and Vapouround is a media partner for the event.

The dinner and awards headline sponsor is also VPZ and the entertainments sponsor is ANDS (Alternative Nicotine Delivery Solutions).

For more information on the conference and awards dinner as well as sponsorship

This panel puts the spotlight on the retail sector who hold the key to preventing the sale of vape products to minors as well as those which are either noncompliant with UK regulations or are counterfeits.

and exhibition opportunities please visit https://www.ukvia.co.uk/ukviaforum-2022/

PANEL DEBATES:

FOOM Lab's mission to aid adult smokers move away from combustible smoking and encourage people to shift to a safer way of consuming nicotine.

Striking gold

Words: Jordan Millar

After making a splash at this year’s Vapouround Awards and earning our highly sought after ‘Hall of Fame’ title, Vampire Vape is riding high.

The UK industry legend – which just celebrated its tenth anniversary – has grown from an at-home passion project to an international vape phenomenon.

To discuss the recent win and what the last 10 years have looked like for the brand, we sat down with Michael Sutcliffe, Group Head of Marketing for Vampire Vape.

Vampire Vape earned a colossal victory at this year’s awards, joining the likes of Dinner Lady in the Vapouround Hall of Fame, how does that feel?

Joining other notable brands in the Vapouround Hall of Fame this year was an unbelievable achievement for the company, especially as we celebrate our tenth-year anniversary!

It’s added to our celebrations and highlights all the amazing work team Vampire Vape has produced over the past ten years.

How does it feel to be at the top of the sector, acting as a leading light and maybe even a point of aspiration for brands across the world?

Being an industry leader has always been an aspiration for Vampire Vape.

We pride ourselves in our unique and award-winning flavours but also in our contributions to the industry and helping to provide a safer alternative to smoking.

We look forward to seeing new products and flavours brought to the market and we are really excited to see what the next ten years bring!

Hall of Fame is a pretty high point, how can you top that…are there any awards that you have your eye on, any you want to add to the trophy case?

We’d love to win all the awards…that’s the crux of it.

Whether that’s best manufacturer, or one of the best flavour categories…just anything and everything that’s relevant to us.

Winning Hall of Fame really was a highlight of the past ten years, we always strive to be industry leaders and so the ‘Industry Leader’ award is what we’re working towards next.

Between the win, the food and the packed list of entertainment, I’m sure there was a lot to take in at the show. What was a highlight moment for you?

We caught up with VAMPIRE VAPE to hear about the highs of winning this year’s Vapouround Hall of Fame award and how it feels to be a cornerstone of the UK sector.

The show really was amazing, a great evening all round! The food, entertainment and awards were better than we could have imagined.

And being able to meet and speak with other brands and industry colleagues was certainly one of the best parts.

A lot of people expect vaping companies to be rivals, but we’re all working towards one goal and it is so exciting to watch other brands bring new and innovative ideas to the world of vaping.

If I could pinpoint another highlight from the show, it would be the opening musical act, it was absolutely amazing and would be one of the most memorable parts for me.

Along with celebrating your awards victory, you were also celebrating your 10-year anniversary…was there ever any idea that the brand would come as far as it has?

It’s hard for me to answer that personally, as I haven’t been here from the very start.

But if you look at it from the perspective that the Vampire Vape founders were some of the first people to step into the UK vaping scene…you’ll realise just how far they’ve come.

They just wanted to produce a quality product and build a recognisable brand identity…and they struck gold.

I think every business needs a hard graft from the owners, a lot of

talent, a little bit of luck and a growing industry in which to set its roots.

And between them, the VV founders Nat and Phil had the ingredients to become a success and they definitely made it happen.

A decade in harm reduction must have come with a lot of highs and possibly a few lows, how has that journey been for the brand?

It’s really quite a short period of time when you think about it… especially for what’s still a relatively new industry.

From working from home, to producing the flavours, to building three new buildings, Vampire Vape has achieved so much so quickly.

And when you consider that our products are sold across 80-something countries, to a huge majority of independent vape shops, the scale is almost unbelievable.

Obviously over the past 10 years you’ve achieved so much, where would you hope to be in another 10?

Over the next ten years we want to continue to work within the industry to help people quit smoking.

We are proud to be one of the most trusted e-liquid manufacturers in the world and are continually working with our customers to reinforce the future of vaping through compliance and quality.

Joining other notable brands in the Vapouround Hall of Fame this year was an unbelievable achievement for the company.

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

The official Vapouround Awards sponsored ‘Redemption’ charity boxing match delivered a knock-out performance after raising almost £12,000 for those in need.

Words: Jordan Millar

There are few better reasons to throw on your gloves and step into the ring than to raise money for a worthy cause.

A fact that the brave fighters at the recent ‘Redemption’ charity boxing match know all too well.

Organised by champion fighter Vince ‘Prince’ Glover, the event saw a selection of brave white-collar warriors and veteran boxers go toeto-toe in a night of money-raising punch-outs.

And what a night it was…the air thick with anticipation as spectators filtered into the repurposed ‘Derby Rollerworld’ skating rink, long before the first competitors even arrived.

At the centre of a sea of tables stood the ring where many of the evening’s 16 fighters would make their boxing debuts, all in an effort to raise £10,000 for mental health group MIND.

Even Vince got in on the action, going up against opponent John Doody for a shot at the Super Middleweight English Title…though he didn’t start out on top form.

Doody managed to land a surprise hit on Vince in the first round, who then realised he needed to kick it into ‘second gear’ if he had a chance of winning.

As the following round began, Vince unleashed his experience and newfound focus, turning the tide of the match and slowly dominating the ring.

He said: “After getting clipped with that first shot, I knew I wasn’t as switched on as I wanted to be.

“Luckily, I managed to relax, the shots started to flow and it all came together; I just saw that I needed to stay away from John and move out of his way.”

Despite his rival’s best efforts, Vince was suddenly back on his game, keeping out of range and ‘knocking them in’ whenever John lunged to take a hit.

The then one-sided bout went on for two more brutal rounds before Vince delivered the final punch and sent Doody stumbling to the ropes…securing his victory and another in his already impressive roster of title wins.

I’m just so grateful for it; for the support, for the feedback, for the team of people I had around me…it was amazing.

He said: “I’m not going to lie, it’s been a rollercoaster for me; between training all the fighters and making sure they all got the best experience, I didn’t get the chance to be nervous.

“When I got in there and I got clipped I just thought ‘here we go, I’m going to have to turn it up to second gear’…something that I’d been drilling into all the people I’d been training.

“It’s hard and you’ve got to push yourself, but that’s when it sort of clicked and it all came out good for me…it was just a massive achievement for myself and I was buzzing afterwards.”

Naturally, it was the final fight that injected the most excitement into the crowd, with a clear and vocal divide across the room as the two contenders made their entrances.

Darren Barber, who was boxing in honour of his mother - who is suffering with dementia - and late father, faced off against Jay Morley for the ‘Unite the Union Cruiserweight Title’, with both fighters greeted by roaring applause.

First time boxer Darren kicked off with a ‘brilliant’ first round, trading blow after emotionally-charged blow with his opponent to the tune of fans chanting his name.

But Jay was quick to bounce back, answering Darren’s ‘out the gate’ barrage with his own torrent of punches.

And after four rounds of ruthless back and forth, Jay walked away with the well-earned title…though the audience and the trainers knew both fighters had put in a stellar performance regardless of the final verdict.

Vince said: “I watched the fight and I think Darren boxed really well; he did absolutely brilliantly in that first round…but he should have jumped on Jay a bit more after wobbling him.

“When Jay came out in that second round, he managed to clip Darren

and, for me, won the three rounds after that.”

He added: “What a fight it was; they both did really, really well and you can’t take anything away from them…they went for it.”

The eight matches of the evening were intercut with a charity auction and raffle, which saw a catalogue of desirable prizes put up for grabs.

Between PT sessions, shorts from boxing legend Frank Bruno and much more, donations on the night topped more than £2,500.

Which – when combined with previous contributions and Vapouround’s own fundraising efforts during our annual award show – came to £11,333…demolishing the original target.

Vince said: “You know, you never truly know how well you’ve done until you organise your own boxing show.

“It was so overwhelming to see people donating hundreds of pounds, that’s a lot of money for some people.

“I’m just so grateful for it; for the support, for the feedback, for the team of people I had around me…it was amazing.”

The now Super Middleweight English champ also commended the fighters who stepped into the ring for the charity event.

He praised them for sticking with training through injuries and exhaustion, following his ‘brutal’ regimen on the lead up to the match.

Vince said: “There’s white collar boxing and then there’s white collar boxing; I put the fighters through what I go through in training and they stuck with it.

“Not one of them pulled out, they always stayed with it and listened; in the end they came together as a team and as a family…it was brilliant.”

Picture credit: Andy Vallans Photography

The first ever MENA Vape Awards was held in Dubai on Sunday June 19 and was jointly presented by Vapouround and Vape Paper.

Words: Paul Caplin

We hosted the seventh annual Vapouround Awards on Friday May 27 and, as you can imagine, staging such a big event takes months of planning and organisation.

So, when we were asked to co-host the inaugural Middle East and North Africa Vape Awards the following month, we knew we had a massive job on our hands.

The ceremony was to take place on the same weekend as the World Vape Show in Dubai, which left us with just six weeks to organise and plan everything.

The short time frame, the fact that it would take place more than 4,000 away and the fact we were hosting it to coincide with an after party sponsored by Xtra all added to the complexity.

In fact, all in all, I think even Tom Cruise would have had his work cut out to get this right.

‘Mission impossible’ are two words that the Vapouround team don’t understand and all I can say is ‘wow, wow, wow’. What was achieved was nothing short of remarkable.

So, at this point, I must give massive props to Abida and the entire Vapouround team as well as the Vape Paper team in Dubai, for managing and organising a truly fantastic and memorable event.

After planning awards for the past seven years, each year getting better and better, we believe we are somewhat experienced in organising these kind of events.

So, we took on our biggest test and organised two massive awards ceremonies just three weeks apart and in different counties.

We have a success blueprint on how things are done, which we try to improve upon year after year so that the results are always clear to see.

The MENA awards tore up the blueprint and we did things completely differently.

Rather than the usual ballroom-style event, we used a very exclusive nightclub as our venue.

This came with some issues, but we managed to overcome every obstacle thrown at us.

The entertainment was second to none. We chose three acts, each one going down with the guests amazingly well. We had acrobats and dancers throughout the evening and it culminated in the Greatest Show, from The Greatest Showman. The entertainment was a huge hit with everyone. Being in a nightclub meant that they had state-of-the-art sound, light and visuals which all added to the amazing experience everyone was witnessing.

Rather than the formal sit down three course meal, it was done as more sharing plates of food on the tables that people could enjoy and canapés were also handed out at the start of the event.

With free booze for every guest who wanted it, the night was flowing and everyone was letting their hair down and enjoying a fantastic experience.

They kicked off with a dance/acrobatic act and then followed with a set of awards.

The second act was made up of dancers performing to Pussycat Dolls music which was then followed by a second set of awards. The Greatest Show act was next, followed by the final set of awards.

From this point, it seamlessly went into the after party. There was another 90 minutes of entertainment and acts, followed by a DJ playing until 3am.

The venue was called The Theater and was a truly a stunning venue, as you will see from the photos.

Although it was a challenge to stage this awards evening, the venue was very accommodating and very professional.

All of the staff were extremely hard working and friendly and you could tell the wealth of experience they had hosting nightly events. In the words of Frankie Vallie ‘Oh What a Night!”

I can’t wait for the second instalment of the MENA awards next year; the bar has been set very high and I’m excited to see the heights we can reach with some proper planning and real time spent on this event.

We took on our biggest test and organised two massive awards ceremonies just three weeks apart and in different counties.

We made this device micro small, yet this device features a 2mL tank that will deliver approximately 800 puffs

MEET THE FLAVOURS WITH A fight ON THEIR HANDS

With the condition already taking a toll on both her daughters’ lives, Jane Johnson of vape shop Delboys has set out to raise awareness for endometriosis.

Words: Oliver Smith

The store’s co-owner Jane Johnson told Vapouround that she wants this campaign to raise awareness, as both her teenage daughters suffer from the condition.

The Delboy’s team has released three new e-liquid flavours for a range called ‘Endo Warriors’ which they are selling directly from the store.

The flavours consist of Unbreakable Blackcurrant, Badass Custard and the menthol alternative Unbreakable Blackcurrant Icy.

Jane said that they were already receiving some really positive feedback from the sales of the e-liquids.

She said that it was important to raise awareness about the chronic condition as it’s still not fully understood and many women are left to suffer in silence.

Her first daughter was just 15-years-old when she was diagnosed in 2019 and her younger daughter, 14, has recently undergone surgery to determine whether she too has the condition.

Jane says many women are not normally diagnosed until they are in their twenties, often due to GPs attributing the pain too ‘bad periods’ at younger ages.

Endometriosis is a common gynaecological inflammatory condition which affects around one in ten women in the UK and causes severe pain in the lower back and abdomen.

It can result in young girls missing out on huge formative parts of their life due to the unbearable abdominal pain.

It has affected Jane’s daughters’ education, due to the amount of time having to be taken off school. This has resulted in the school enquiring over the girls’ low attendance, which Jane says just proves the lack of understanding there is for endometriosis in society.

Jane explained that due to the stigma, teenagers are not getting diagnosed, with it coming too late on in life for a lot of women.

She described hearing stories of some women ‘losing 20 years of their life’ to the condition.

Jane was defiant in never stopping her fight to raise awareness for both her daughters and the millions suffering worldwide.

Delboys has held fundraisers for endometriosis in the past - just before the lockdown back in 2020, the Del Boys team put on a sale of tea, coffee and cake at the store and raised over £250.

And with rave reviews on the threestrong Endo Warrior line, Jane says there could potentially be additional flavours joining the line up in the future.

Delboys Vape and CBD in Derby has unveiled a new campaign for the uncurable chronic disease endometriosis.

Meet

Subversive ceramic core technology

At its global online launch event in June, ZOVOO unveiled its new Nano-Tech Ceramic Core which features its independently-developed innovative technology named ‘GENE TREE Special Edition’.

Ceramic core technology has become a key indicator to measure a company’s technical advancement in the field of electronic atomization.

ZOVOO GENE TREE Special Edition is dedicated to becoming a leader in atomization technology through nano-microcrystalline materials and technological innovation, providing users with a natural and pleasant vaping experience.

While breaking through technical barriers and deepening technological innovation, ZOVOO launched the DRAGBAR Z700 GT, a disposable with a delicate and light appearance.

Equipped with GENE TREE Special Edition, it is a ceramic core product that subverts the industry and opens a new era of ceramic core vaping.

Here are some of the technological advantages of this revolutionary innovation compared with previous ceramic cores.

LOW CONSUMPTION, UP TO 700 PUFFS

The ultra-thin DRAGBAR Z700 GT brings exceptional power efficiency and up to 700 puffs which is more than twice that of similar products on the market.

It represents the new peak of puffs in 2ml disposable products on the market, enjoying a more stable and lasting vaping experience.

With higher energy conversion efficiency, GENE TREE Special Edition inside accomplishes a total transcendence.

This includes its super-low power, superlow battery consumption to give more puffs to achieve higher energy conversion efficiency and upgraded user experiences.

POWDER-FREE TECHNOLOGY, PURE VAPING

As the industry’s first ‘powder-free’ ceramic core, proprietary-patented technology, GENE TREE Special Edition eliminates the problem of powder sticking and dropping in the traditional ceramic core.

It is the high intensity ceramic formed at 1,300°C temperatures, that guarantees the powder-free effects to protect users’ health.

Even when magnified 25 times under the microscope, when compared to its competitors, the GENE TREE ceramic core has no surface powder.

This gives a real powder-free puff experience which allows for the full enjoyment of the purity of every puff.

First to Adopt Multilayer Microhole Structure ZOVOO’s R&D team developed the industry’s first Multilayer Microhole Structure by ceramic materials grading.

GENE TREE Special Edition ensures strong e-liquid control, while providing users with mute vaping.

It solves the points that users are most concerned about, such as liquid overheating, poor stability, low service life, liquid leakage and other problems that seriously affect the taste and use experience.

NO DECAY IN TASTE, MORE OUTSTANDING FLAVOR

The Proper Multilayer Microhole Structure provides for a higher balance between the best tobacco substitute and a delicate mouthfeel.

GENE TREE Special Edition offers the superb substitute mouthfeel. Compared with the ceramic coils of competitors in the market, it increases the overall substitution by 26 percent and increases taste consistency by 60 percent.

GENE TREE Special Edition vaping aerosol

has a stable release, 3.8 percent overall attenuation, compared to 10 percent for competitors, realizing full experiences without attenuation and consistent vaping experience from each puff.

Compared with similar products, GENE TREE Special Edition increases the cloud production by 36% and increases the fineness of the cloud by 14 percent.

The taste is more attractive, bringing you a delicate, smooth and super restored taste.

BRAND STORY

ZOVOO was born for warmth and care. Since its establishment, the team has been constantly refining technology and design to reach a higher peak.

The company’s aim is to continuously provide our customers with thoughtful products and caring services while contributing to the promotion of respiratory health for all.

The ZOVOO team is persistent in improving core competence and is totally userfocused.

It was highly praised by the industry when it was listed in 2020 and now is globally recognized and accepted, becoming ever more favored by consumers.

ZOVOO will continue to invest in innovative technology research and development.

It will constantly promote scientific and technological innovation to rebuild the healthy ecology of the electronic atomization industry as the goal of brand development.

Looking forward, ZOVOO plans to bring more surprises to global users and refresh the market pattern of electronic atomization industry in the future.

next level TAKING THINGS next level

From a fated encounter to industry leaders, we hear the story of two brands who came together to deliver ‘cleaner’ synthetic nicotine to the world.

It was during a chance encounter at a vape industry conference that George CasselsSmith met the man who would open his eyes to the world of synthetic nicotine.

The Eliquitech CEO had been passing the time by guessing which company the big execs worked for from their questions.

But there was a ‘sharp stranger’ who stood out from the crowd, one who didn’t seem to belong to any particular organisation…or at least not one that George could put his finger on.

The mystery man’s line of questioning piqued George’s interest, who asked himself ‘could an independent really have this much knowledge under his belt?’.

Intrigued, he made a point of speaking to the stranger and to his surprise, the stranger – who turned out to be Zanoprima Director Ashok Narasimhan - had made a point of speaking to him.

The pair met and discussed a project to develop a pure synthetic nicotine, eventually deciding that they could partner up to deliver a ‘cleaner alternative’ to the masses.

Fast forward to today and Zanoprima sits at the forefront of the burgeoning synthetic nicotine industry and George stands firm as its sole distributor.

In a recent interview, the Eliquitech boss and Dr. William Jackson – director of development and manufacturing for Zanoprima – gave us a look into the future of synthetic nicotine.

The pair explained why the lab-made product was a greener alternative to more widely used tobacco-derived nicotine, how it would measure up to longstanding stigmas and how their product fits into the sector.

They stressed that tobacco cultivation puts a heavy burden on the planet, calling it a leading culprit for deforestation.

Dr. Jackson highlighted that tobacco farmers can leave land depleted and ‘devoid of all nutrients’ if they don’t use fertilisers and pesticides, meaning they have to expand across greater spaces.

Alternatively, Zanoprima uses ‘green chemistry’ to develop its nicotine, a technique that looks at minimising waste and reducing environmental impacts.

The brand uses glucose – a renewable resource –and water, meaning any waste they produce is ‘very biodegradable’.

They also estimate that the synthetic nicotine could be responsible for up to three times less carbon dioxide than its tobacco-derived counterpart.

Dr. Jackson said that creating such an eco-friendly process wasn’t intentional, instead being a welcome bonus of

NOT

FREEZING IN

TIME AND

INSTEAD

CONTINUING TO BE

INNOVATIVE

IS CRITICAL MOVING FORWARD AND CLEAN SYNTHETIC NICOTINE IS GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN THAT.

‘finding the optimal way of doing things’.

But it’s not just the environmental shortfalls of tobaccoderived nicotine that the lab-made alternative addresses, also solving the problem of flavour.

Eliquitech CEO George Cassels-Smith said: “Even the minimal impurities in tobacco derived nicotine give it a fishy taste and an oily mouth coating, but our product doesn’t have that.

“There’s no sensory impact, no smell, no taste, it’s just like water…it’s like the perfect canvas on which to create a piece of art.”

One of the biggest issues currently facing tobacco-derived nicotine is widespread negative stigma; a hurdle that the synthetic alternative may have to overcome as well.

In fact, Dr. Jackson said the situation could be WORSE for lab-made nicotine as people assume there are ‘bad players’ using it to sidestep regulation.

He warned that, despite being a ‘cleaner and purer’ product, there are vested interest groups ‘propagating myths’ about synthetic nicotine.

Echoing these concerns, George said calling it ‘synthetic’ was the worst mistake he could have made as its been given a bad rap, suggesting ‘super clean nicotine’ would have been a better choice.

But the Eliquitech boss remains optimistic, saying that the traceability of the product fills a hole in the market and could help get cautious critics onside.

He said: “The whole world has never been under a stronger microscope and I think it’s so imperative that people focus on creating the best quality product…one bad apple can spoil the lot.

“Not freezing in time and instead continuing to be innovative is critical moving forward…and clean synthetic nicotine is going to be an active ingredient in that.”

George now hopes the Zanoprima-made synthetic nicotine - which is patented across most of the world, including the UK, EU, the Americas, Middle East and Asia Pacific - can start to take those next steps.

He said he would love for the UK market to take the technology, which is produced in an FDA inspected facility and is the result of years of optimised research, and show the rest of the world what can be done.

George said: “We really don’t need reckless brands making hocus pocus, we need big responsible players to take notice of synthetic nicotine and take it to the next level.”

Dr. Jackson added: “We’ve made everything as good as we could, from cost minimisation to environmental considerations…and now we’ve got a process that’s competitive with pharmaceutical grade nicotine.”

VAPEXPO Spain June 4-5, 2022. Madrid.

After two years of forced hiatus due to COVID, the return of Vapexpo Spain to Madrid was most welcome indeed.

This has been recognised as one of the most important vape shows in Europe so it was great to see it back again.

The expo attracted many familiar faces but also played host to a number of new brands who were eager to show what they had to offer.

The organisers worked hard to ensure that every exhibitor, old and new, felt at home and this event was further proof that the industry continues to thrive.

Vapexpo Madrid plays an important role in bringing so many different sectors of the industry together and the

organisers said it was a huge success.

A spokesperson for the Vapexpo Spain team said: “This was an exhibition where we could meet and share a few days full of smiles, friendship, music, business and, above all, keep boosting and driving forward the vape industry in Spain.

“The exhibitors delighted us all with their new products and we loved to see their joy and desire to participate in our outstanding event.”

More than 90 companies from around the world were represented at the show which featured around 150 brands and saw almost 3,000 visits registered over the two days.

The team is already working on Vapexpo Madrid 2023 and promises a ‘tour de force of surprises’ for next year’s show.

The UK’s vaping education hub on wheels Returns SEPTEMBER 2022

We’re on a mission to educate smokers about the life-saving technology of vaping and help millions more smokers make the switch for good.

After spending more than seven hours on a flight, the Vapouround team finally landed in dazzling Dubai to a hot, hot summer.

When we arrived at the Sheikh Saeed Halls within the Dubai World Trade Center for set up day, the World Vape Show team was warm and welcoming. The team set the bar high for this threeday event: not only was it 50 percent bigger than last year but there was a packed programme of conference talks and a huge buzz about the place.

It was immediately clear from the organisers wanted to make an impact at this show and they certainly succeeded because everything ran like clockwork.

Check-in was a breeze and we were quickly issued with exhibitor passes to get into the show.

The world is open for business again after COVID and the only restriction still in place was the requirement to wear a mask, but this didn't disrupt the atmosphere at all.

There were more than 200 exhibitor booths spread across the 20,000 sq. m floor and some of the best known names in the industry were here, including Dr. Vapes, Geekvape, Monster Vape Labs and Dinner Lady (to name just a few).

Footfall was impressive with around 12,000 attendees and there were no shortage of famous faces in attendance.

Aussie vape reviewer Vaping Bogan was in Dubai to represent his new e-liquid line and also took part in one of the conference talks on how to build your vape brand.

Arguably the most well-known vape reviewer in the world and vaping advocate Grimm Green was also spotted, and on Friday the show got a special visit from social media influencer and CEO of IGNITE, Dan Bilzerian.

We even got treated to some rapping on the final day from Mo Hassan from Dr. Vapes as he took to the conference stage to give out some swag bags full of freebies.

Many exhibitors commented on how successful this event had been for them. As this show was predominately B2B, this gave exhibitors and visitors a real opportunity to network and develop new, prosperous business opportunities.

The clear focus on business was also demonstrated by the incredible designs of many of the exhibitors' stands. Many featured dedicated meeting rooms or seated networking areas, cleverly integrated into the stand’s set-up.

Over in the World Vape Show conference area, UKVIA Director General John Dunne moderated a number of talks such as ‘Vaping Research and Public Health’ and ‘Are disposables proving viable from a cost and environmental perspective?’.

There were over 30 expert speakers from around the world giving their perspectives on the latest trends, regulatory updates and the future of the e-cigarette industry.

Speakers included Dustin Dahlmann from the Independent European Vape Alliance, Dr Colin Mendelsohn from the Australia Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and Fred Roeder from the Consumer Choice Center.

As the e-cigarette industry is still in its infancy in the UAE, some of the talks also offered important industry advice and insights for businesses looking to enter this new and fast-paced market.

If you’re able to watch some of the talks back, I would highly recommend it.

World Vape Show Dubai was a resounding success with every person I spoke reporting that they had only positive words to say about the expo and the team behind it.

I, for one, am excited to see what the next World Vape Show brings… and there's not long to wait as the next event is on its way to London in December.

I had been looking forward to getting back to the Hall of Vape which was, by far, the largest show in Europe before COVID struck.

For me, this show has a special place in my heart because the first foreign vape show I ever attended was the Stuttgart Hall of Vape back in 2019.

As soon as I arrived, all those great memories came flooding back and I knew I was in for a real treat.

While the show was smaller than before, and was held over two days rather than three, it had lost none of its magic.

I think the organisers got the mix of business and consumer participation just right.

Both mornings were reserved for B2B visitors and it was only in the afternoons that the event was opened up to consumers.

This made it far easier to get business done and it went down well with the exhibitors I spoke to.

Seeing familiar brands and clients made me feel right at home and, at the same time, part of our great, global and diverse vape industry.

After a successful first day, we were invited to an exhibitor afterparty hosted by FEAL GmbH.

This was a great chance to wind down, enjoy the sun and sample some great German food and most importantly…some great German beer.

Day two was just as great as the previous day with lots of consumers and smiles all around from the exhibitors.

Once again, Hall of Vape proved to be a great show and Ira and his trusted team deserve a huge thank you for pulling off another successful vape show and I cannot wait for their next thriving expo.

June 25-26, 2022. Messe Stuttgart.

Words: Baz Bassra

VAPOUROUND

E-LIQUID

VAPOUROUND REVIEWS

HARDWARE

nd do not necessarily represent the opinion of Vapouround Magazine. All e-liquids are reviewed at a 3 mg nicotine level. Mod reviews a re rated on specific criteria depending on the style of products received.

Please note: All hardwa re and e-liquid reviews a re reviewed by external reviewers a

AIRSCREAM AIRSPOPS PRO

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Battery capacity: 700 mAh

• Working voltage: 3.7 V

• Coil resistance: 1.0 Ohm

• Tank capacity: 2 ml

• Dimensions: 104.4 mm x 22.5 mm x 12 mm

Words: Peach Atkinson

Originating in the UK, The AirsPops Pro from Airscream brings a whole new device to the table.

With a strong first impression, the AirsPops Pro looks and feels like what every pod system aspires to be.

Being neither too heavy nor too light, the AirsPops Pro still retains an aura of quality and careful craftsmanship and this is reflected in its stylish exterior.

Coming in a couple of colour options, I’ve been lucky enough to get the sleek black and white finish - definitely my go to colour choice for vape products.

With a few external features, including a power ON/OFF button (five clicks to switch on or off), an activation light, a battery life indicator, an airflow hole and a USB-C charging port, this device is still super easy to operate.

The 700mAh built-in battery meant that I only had to charge this device once a day.

Battery life is indicated by three small lights on the side of the device, meaning you’ll know exactly when it’s time to pop your vape on charge.

Despite having a physical button, the AirsPops Pro is draw activated, so you just need to inhale on the mouthpiece to use this device.

The pod itself has a small rubber gasket for the fill port which is a dark, translucent colour to allow you to see how full the pod is.

Pods fit the standard, TPD-compliant 2ml capacity and I averaged at about 2-3 refills a day.

Throughout my time trialling this kit, and even on a hot day, there was no leaking, just a touch of condensation on the base of the pod which is magnetically attached to the device and fits precisely, with no looseness or rattling.

One of my favourite features is that it uses replaceable coil heads, rather than having to replace a whole pod. Not only does

this reduce waste, but you can bulk buy coils making vaping more cost effective in the long run.

Utilising 1.0ohm coils, this kit works wonders with thin e-liquids as well as high strength nicotine (It was incredible alongside 20mg nic salts) and despite not being sub-ohm, you could still really appreciate the strong flavours and intense throat hit.

I found that the AirsPops Pro had a very tight MTL inhale and closely resembled the inhale associated with smoking a cigarette (apart from the differently-shaped mouthpiece).

Paired up with a high-strength, tobacco flavoured e-liquid, it becomes easier to try and reduce your daily amount of cigarettes.

The build quality was simply amazing and it even survived a substantial drop without so much as a scratch.

The magnetic pods remained in place and despite vaping consistently, they never became loose or unstable.

To say I was impressed would be a massive understatement.

It was glaringly obvious that it will be the ideal choice for new vapers due to its tight inhale and strong nicotine throat hit, but even as a veteran vaper, I enjoyed using the AirsPops Pro.

PROS

• MTL inhale will be perfect for smokers looking to quit • Replaceable coils

CONS

• I would have liked adjustable airflow control

MOTI X MINI KIT

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 25.4*72.3mm

Power Output: 10W-29W

Battery Capacity: 1150mAh

Charging: DC 5V/1A USB-C

Words: Peach Atkinson

Closed pod systems are easy-to-use, offer unparalleled simplicity, and with an enormous amount of flavours on offer, make a great choice for new vapers.

The Moti X Mini’s stubby, cylindrical shape makes it stand out from the crowd and it is available in several different finishes, all of which are transparent, revealing the inner electronics.

This gives it a futuristic look that I love, bringing back nostalgic memories of game consoles from the late nineties.

The X Mini has a surprisingly hefty feel that adds an air of quality and sturdiness. It is great that such a small device houses a 1150mAh in-built battery so you can expect to charge it midway through your day, especially if you are a heavy vaper like me.

It is charged via USB C and took about 30-40mins to get it from 0 to 100 percent, so a little while, but it still packs a punch.

True to its slogan, the X Mini is certainly ‘mighty but mini’ and has a defined 10W-29W output. This, paired with the nonleaking pods and intense flavours, makes this kit a reliable and convenient device.

The pods come pre-filled and are discarded when the liquids run out. This is great for users who crave simplicity as there is no need to fill a tank or change coils.

The pods themselves are magnetic and fit snugly into the top of the device. I found the magnets to be strong enough to eliminate any chance of looseness or rattling.

By rotating the pod, whilst connected to the vape, you can fully adjust the airflow and customise the type of inhale you prefer.

The prefilled pods have a unique feature to retain flavour before unboxing: they use a push system to pop the coil to the base of the pod before vaping. This reduces the risk of leaking or causing the flavours to become muted.

The pods I received came in a variety of appealing flavours in 3mg/ml nicotine strength.

Many closed pod systems hover around the 20mg/ml mark, meaning they are suitable for heavy vapers, or heavy smokers looking to quit, but if you prefer low strength nicotine, then the Moti X Mini pods are a great alternative.

The Moti X Mini also has refillable pods available if you want to choose your own flavour and/or strength, but for now, I’ll take a quick look at some of the pre-filled flavours currently on offer.

RAINBOW FIZZ

Highly reminiscent of everyone's favourite, multicoloured sweets, this flavour gave off bright, fruity and bouncy vibes. With a collection of nostalgic flavours, there is also a strong element of sourness too.

There is also a sugary sense of effervescence that is offset by the sourness that combines into an unmistakable and muchwelcomed sweet and sour combination.

BLUEBERRY RASPBERRY

A delicate and floral flavour, the joining of two different kinds of berries and a touch of menthol is perfect to enjoy on a hot day.

For me, the blueberry was a little more laid back whilst the raspberry seemed a bit more lively and prominent.

With the added hit of menthol, the berries weren’t initially overtaken by the intense coldness, but as you finish the exhale, they come back in again.

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

Even prior to vaping, the packaging gave off the distinct and deep aroma of smooth strawberries and rich cream. So, when I began to vape, the flavour was amplified tenfold.

Despite being a dessert flavour, there was an incredibly subtle sweetness to it which worked very well for me.

The addition of a blast of cooling agent created a strangely refreshing and alluring flavour, without the sickly feeling often found in overly sweet e-liquids.

MELON KIWI

A rich set of exotic fruits, this one will have you wishing you were on a beach somewhere in the tropics.

Instantly there is a soft, delicate but exceedingly juicy combination of melon, mainly honeydew with just a tad of candy-like watermelon.

This interaction was delicious enough on its own, but was compounded by a more dominant and noticeable kiwi that swept the melon notes up.

I really appreciated the complexities in this flavour and with a very minute amount of cooling, the fruitier elements could thrive.

HONEY LEMON FIZZ

A delicious combo of different tastes, I couldn’t help but be reminded of cough sweets.

It has all the main flavours right there, we have the bright and slightly acidic lemon, then a sweet and incredibly rich golden honey followed by the indisputable, biting blast of coldness.

It flawlessly recreated such a distinguishable and widelyrecognised taste. I’m not usually a fan of this flavour combination, but the smoothness was impressive and this actually turned out to be my favourite in this group.

PROS

- I really liked that you could get 3mg/ml strength pre-filled pods

- All the flavours were powerful and tasty

- I loved the fact that this kit is semi-transparent

CONS

- Battery life wasn’t as great as I’d like, but this is mainly because I am a heavy vaper

Z700 GT DRAGBAR DISPOSABLES

Words: Alex Shenker

By now VOOPOO is a household name – as far as vaping goes – standing firm alongside some of the most iconic brands at the top of the industry.

And these disposables are tangible proof as to why…because the brand continues to deliver high-quality products time and time again. These Dragbar devices included a 380mAh battery, contained 2ml of liquid and lasted around 700 puffs – fairly standard for a disposable – but it’s the expansive range of flavours where the product starts to shine.

For this review I tried a handful of VOOPOO’s flavour offerings; here’s how they all faired:

Strawberry Shake

If you’re a fan of creamy flavours this ultra-smooth and luxurious vape might just be the one for you.

As you’d expect from the name, the flavour on display here is strawberry milkshake and it’s a damn good one!

The strawberries tasted lovely and fresh and the milkshake was like a super thick, mega creamy shake from your favourite ice cream spot. I highly recommend this bar to anyone who likes a nice, sweet dessert vape or those fruit lovers who are on the hunt for something a little different.

Lemon Lime

Lemon Lime is a citrus number that offers a great contrast to the previous bar…not to mention that it’s real triumph of flavour (in my humble opinion anyway).

Of course the name doesn’t leave much to the imagination, so I’m sure you know what to expect from this one, but it is extremely well done.

The lemon and lime flavours tasted very authentic and were a match made in heaven.

The liquid was sharp and sour with some subtle sweeter notes that kept it from being too mouth-puckering.

This flavour was really smooth and easy to vape for extended periods of time, so keep an eye out for this one if you like your citrus.

Blueberry Raspberry

It’s fair to say that blueberry raspberry flavours are the kings of the disposable market, with many companies boasting their own interpretation…but VOOPOO’s is definitely a standout offering.

Battery capacity: 380mAh

E-liquid capacity: 2ml Nicotine content: 20mg/ml

This flavour hit all the beats you’d expect, blending sweet blueberries with fresh, tart raspberries.

The contrast of sweet and sour was wonderful and made this yet another VOOPOO flavour that’s super easy to vape.

While there are similar flavours on the market, this is one of the best versions I’ve tried and I urge you to give it a go.

Watermelon Strawberry

This was yet another classic fruit combo and another fantastic example of how to do things correctly!

So many times I’ve used a strawberry-based flavour and been disappointed by the synthetic taste and the same can be said for watermelon liquids as well.

Both of the fruits here tasted vibrant and juicy, with neither flavour overpowering the other and instead worked together to create a harmonious fruity burst.

I think I saved the best until last here as this bar absolutely blew me away in terms of flavour.

I was given six flavours to try for this review and this is how I got on with them:

Fruit Mix

Aptly named, this disposable boasts a rich selection of complex, vibrant and refreshing fruit notes.

Enlisting tastes such as pineapple and mango, there is a multitude of different fruity flavours all vying for your attention. Personally, I felt that there was a tone of smoothness to it and the sub-flavours didn’t really seem to clash, but rather coexisted with one another.

There was an unparalleled, full-tasting sweetness to this particular disposable and therefore it gave an impression of realism.

You can’t go wrong with a flavour like this and the lack of cooling agent just accentuates the laid back feeling you get when vaping this disposable.

Vanilla Custard

A longstanding favourite of mine, custards - particularly vanilla ones - seem to dominate a large segment of dessert based e-liquids, and rightly so.

With literally thousands of variants, there are even more vapers who are just hooked on this unmistakable flavour profile.

As a reviewer, I like to really get to know a flavour such as this and to compare them and pick apart any of the positive or negative features.

I can say in full certainty, that this disposable from Exvape manages to ace the test.

The combination of the deep, rich and exceedingly smooth blend of custard with the dash of subtly sweet vanilla bean pod, was just sublime.

The creaminess was expertly recreated in vape form and was excessively easy to puff away on.

Blueberry Ice

A lively and sweet candied blueberry-based flavour, I seemed to notice a bit of a nudge of bubblegum when inhaling - something I have grown to enjoy more and more as a vaper of fruit flavours.

Backing up the light, but punchy, fruit notes is a sharp and eartingling hit of cooling agent.

The combination of the two rather different flavour elements seems to focus the attention on the idea of refreshment.

As I am writing, and concurrently melting in this mini heatwave, I have found a true partner in this specific disposable and its

uncanny ability to help keep me cool.

Ideally enjoyed in warm weather, I have no doubts it will also be a great flavour to enjoy in cooler climates.

Mango Ice

Probably one the most popular and recognisable flavours currently on the market due to the semi-recent advent of disposables, Mango Ice is a simple and effectively created flavour that any vaper can enjoy.

Layered and intense, the mango flavouring used in this e-liquid closely replicates the zesty, effervescent and unequivocally fresh nature of the fleshy fruit.

The rich and exotic feel oozes a carefree and tropical vibe and strongly evokes a sense of summer vacation, no matter where you are in the world.

Lashings of cooling agent gives the mango a platform to show off, whilst simultaneously supporting the cold and refreshing impression that this flavour offers.

Melon Ice

As a somewhat ambiguous overall flavour, this disposable boasts an array of light, juicy and rather complex set of various types of melon.

Instantly the most discernible taste to me would’ve undoubtedly been a strong and striking watermelon.

It gave me an impression of watermelon-based confectionary, perhaps as a candy or fizzy drink but was nonetheless delicious. Then came a more subdued and soft undertone in the form of honeydew and this seemed to balance out the slightly harsher watermelon notes.

With the customary hit of cooling at the end, this flavour was both intricate and refreshing.

Cool Mint

An easy choice for vapers who don’t enjoy sweet and/or complex flavours, Cool Mint is a superbly well-executed and effective overall taste.

Rallying a selection of cold flavours, including peppermint and a tiny pinch of spearmint, this e-liquid also boasts a substantial taste of biting menthol.

If that wasn’t already enough, an exceptionally cold blast of cooling agent picks up the minty notes and combines to generate a one-of-a-kind, powerful and easy to enjoy cold flavour.

With a complete lack of fruity parts, I found it didn’t get to the point of being overbearing or sickly, and ex-menthol smokers will really relish vaping this disposable.

WIDEWICK POD SYSTEM

Words: Alex Shenker

Today I’m taking a look at the brand new WideWick pod system from Joyetech.

I’m a big fan of Joyetech products, with their EVIO C kit being one of my systems of choice for daily use.

Coming into this, I suppose the first question would be ‘why is it called WideWick’…and for the answer we have to look no further than the pod on the top of the device.

It’s wide and densely packed with wicking material, similar to the design of the old cartomizers.

Beyond that it’s a fairly standard looking device, with a streamlined shape and no real distinguishing features other than the pod on top.

There are seven colours available - some with an aluminum body and others with a rubber-like grip to them - the one I’m reviewing is red with a metal body.

At first glance it was a very minimalistic vape; there were no buttons and it had a draw-activated fire system, meaning there was nothing on the vape body other than some small logos, an LED light and a USB-C charging port.

Battery capacity: 800mAh

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

Charging: USB-C Coil: 1.2ohm

this device, you just replace the whole pod when the coil is finished.

I have to say I’m very impressed with the quality of vape I got from the Joyetech WideWick.

It produces quite a warm vape which I like and I was very happy with the flavour I was getting.

I would definitely recommend using 50/50 liquids with this device, as I don’t think anything thicker would soak in very well.

The draw is a decently tight MTL, perfect for using the 50/50 juices and I tried a few different flavours through it which all came through perfectly.

Unfortunately, the airflow is not adjustable so make sure you’re happy with this sort of draw before purchasing.

JOYTECH REVIEW

I’ve used around 30ml of juice and the coil still seems to be going strong so am inclined to agree with Joyetech’s claims about their unique wicking material helping to keep the coil saturated.

Overall, I think it’s a really good size, being very portable and feeling very well built with no rattling or loose parts.

The fact it has no buttons or screens makes it very accessible to beginners and advanced vapers alike which definitely works to its advantage.

The WideWick features an 800mAh battery, operating between 9-12 watts, which should be enough to get you through the day.

The battery is charged via the USB-C port on the bottom and I found it to have a very quick charge time, usually under an hour from flat to full.

Thankfully pass-through is available so you can continue vaping whilst the device is charging.

The LED light on the side of the device lights up white as you vape, but unfortunately does not change colour to warn you about low charge, which I would have liked but it’s not a dealbreaker.

Ultimately, the pods were the main selling point of this device, containing a 1.2ohm coil and a unique polymer composite cotton wicking system – which helps to keep the coil saturated at all times.

The material looks more like sponge than traditional wicking material and fills up most of the 2ml pod, so you only have a small window for filling up with juice.

You need to be patient when filling this device, as it can take up to five minutes for the liquid to soak into the wicking material.

As you can probably tell there is no coil change necessary with

Overall, I was extremely happy with the performance of the Joyetech WideWick, and I think it’s a great device for new starters due to its ease of use and discreetness.

I also think there’s some great stuff here for experienced vapers to check out as well with the unique pods.

PROS

- Long lasting coils

- Discreet design

- Easy-to-use

CONS

- No battery warning light

- No adjustable airflow

VAPORESSO

GEN PT80 S KIT

Words: Peach Atkinson

Designed with DTL (direct to lung) vapers in mind, the GEN PT80 S impresses from the start.

With its sleek and understated exterior, this kit not only boasts style, but also reliable performance.

It comes in a variety of subtle colours and finishes, all of which embody a sense of quality and refinement.

With a slender, palm sized body, the tank sits atop and is secured via magnets. Even with an 18650 battery installed, the GEN PT80 S is lightweight but feels amazing to hold as it fits perfectly in your grip.

This kit has an impressive 0.91” OLED display, which provides all the technical information you need to know, most importantly the wattage, ohms and battery level.

This kit also has a fire button, an up and down button as well as a USB C charging port.

Utilising an 18650 battery (not included), keeping a decent level of charge is easy and I found that battery life was consistent and lasted a couple days of moderate usage.

The battery is installed behind a magnetic, removable door and is then held snugly inside the device, almost a bit too snug for me, as it was a little tricky to remove the battery.

The GEN PT80 S offers three main modes that can be toggled through by holding both the up and down buttons simultaneously.

First, we have ‘VW’ which is variable wattage, then ‘VV’ which stands for variable voltage, and then finally ‘SW’ which means smart variable wattage. Smart variable wattage basically means that the device will pick out a suitable wattage automatically depending on which coil you use.

The GEN PT80 S works brilliantly with the GTX mesh coils and the 0.15Ω & 0.3Ω options come with the kit. I used the 0.15Ω coil at about 65W and the 0.3Ω coil at 35W and the flavour was smooth and full tasting on both.

Being sub ohm coils, higher VG e-liquids are perfect and you can expect decent vapour production too. Coils seemed to last a little longer than average, especially due to the fact that I was using 80 percent VG e-liquid.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 132*30*29mm

Tank Capacity: 2ml (TPD Compliant)

Battery: 1 x 18650 (not included)

Output Power: 5-80W

Charging: DC 5V/2A USB C

Display: 0.91” OLED Screen

Filling the pod is both easy and innovative, as the fill port is hidden behind the airflow control ring, revealing a small rubber gasket that will accommodate most e-liquid bottle tops.

Keep spinning the airflow ring and you will be able to choose your ideal inhale. I had it on maximum airflow and it made the DTL experience incredible.

There was absolutely no leakage nor any condensation whilst I used this kit and when it comes to durability, do not let the smooth and sophisticated exterior fool you.

Despite a couple of clumsy drops onto pavement and a rather unfortunate incident with a garden sprinkler, the GEN PT80 S held up remarkably well, sustaining a minor scratch but no water damage.

As a simple to use but rewarding vape, the GEN PT80 S is a great choice for sub ohm vapers when out and about and for those who crave resilience and reliability.

Despite being more of an MTL user, I was surprised at how well I got on with this device.

PROS

- A great device for MTL vapers looking to try out sub ohm vaping for the first time

- With an RRP of roughly £30-£35, it’s not going to break the bank

- Flavour was warm and smooth

CONS

- It could be a little tricky to remove the battery

VAPORESSO GEN PT60 KIT

Words: Peach Atkinson

The younger sibling of the Vaporesso GEN PT80 S kit, the GEN PT60 is more compact and pocket sized while retaining many of larger model’s lovely qualities.

Although smaller in stature, it feels a little heavier, perhaps because this device features an integrated battery.

The GEN PT80 S and the GEN PT60 are both sleek, understated, and extremely classy.

This particular kit has the standard up/down and fire buttons, a USB C charging port, and a small, but stunningly crisp, 0.91” OLED screen and its displays include wattage, battery life, resistance and puff count.

As with the GEN PT80 S, you can toggle through a few different vaping modes such as variable voltage, variable wattage, and smart variable wattage - all depending on your personal taste.

Going up to just 60W (in comparison to 80W on the GEN PT80 S), this device has a built in 2500mAh battery.

With many 18650 batteries currently designed for use on vape kits reaching around the 2000-2500mAh mark, I found that the battery life on this kit was sufficient.

When using the GTX Mesh 0.2ohm coil at 50W, the battery level did go down a little quicker than when using the 0.4ohm coil.

Charging via a USB C cable took around 45 minutes to an hour. I personally find that devices with built-in batteries are much more convenient as it eradicates the need of an external battery charger and/or spare batteries.

The GEN PT60 also utilises GTX Mesh coils, and both the 0.2ohm and 0.4ohm coils are included with this kit. Working best with high VG e-liquids, this setup offers warm, intense, and deeply flavourful inhales, and these coils really bring out the best in any flavour you choose to vape.

Vapour production is equally as impressive, and as someone who is used to MTL setups, I was rather taken aback (in a good way).

Dimensions: 112*35*28mm Battery: Integrated 2500mAh Output power: 5-60W Charging: DC 5V/2A, USB Type C Display: 0.91” OLED Screen

The coils are super easy to install in the Vaporesso X Tank Pods and only need to be pushed into the base of the tank until they sit flush.

Filling the tank is just as easy and only involves rotating the airflow adjustment ring to reveal a rubber seal that covers a fill port.

On the topic of airflow control, the range of different inhales on offer is incredible. This tank can accommodate tight MTL all the way to a loose, billowy DTL inhale, so offers something for everyone.

One of the features I really appreciated when reviewing the GEN PT80 S was the fact that there was a complete lack of condensation build up nor any leaking and this is mirrored in the GEN PT60.

Having the same price point as its bigger counterpart (RRP of £30-£35) I feel that I would personally rather go for the GEN PT60, mainly due to its more petite size and integrated battery, although this is largely down to personal preference.

Of the two kits, the GEN PT60 came up trumps for me as I found it to be very enjoyable, compact and reliable.

PROS

The built-in battery

The weight of this device felt comfortable to hold Flavour was amplified by the GTX Mesh coils

CONS

I’d like to see a slightly larger battery life

FLERBAR DISPOSABLES

Words: Alex Shenker

I’ve reviewed quite a few disposables in my time, but few have impressed me quite like these devices from Flerbar. Not only do they boast the sleek figure and bold flavour options that are so often looked for in disposables, but I was also a fan of the simple monochromatic design. These devices contain 20mg of salt nicotine and clocked in at around 600 puffs, both fairly standard stats seen across most disposables. For this review I tried six mouth-watering flavours, each offering a blend of unique taste notes…

Banana Ice

I have to say I really enjoyed this one! The initial flavour was sweet and creamy banana, which perfectly recreated what you’d expect from a high-quality offering such as this. The ice quickly followed, adding a real refreshing boost to the vape and kept it from becoming sickly. I’m not always a fan of sweeter fruit and ice mixes, but in this case, it works really well!

Lychee Ice

Lychee can be a bit of a divisive flavour; some people really can’t stand it whilst others can’t get enough of the exotic, mysterious fruit. I’m personally a bit on the fence, as, when it’s done well, I can happily vape lychee all day long, but I have also suffered through a few dodgy ones over the years. Thankfully Flerbar has done a great job and I’m pleased to say I am now a lychee lover!

If you’ve never tried a lychee flavour before I’d definitely start with this one, as it’s very fresh tasting and the ice helps round it out as well.

Strawberry Ice

Let’s face it, pretty much every vape brand going has a strawberry flavour somewhere in their repertoire. Making your strawberry e-liquid stand out from the crowd is certainly a challenge and one that Flerbar was ready to undertake. The strawberry flavour was sweet and juicy, smelling and tasting like a batch of freshly picked berries delivered straight from the farm. Each of the 600 puffs upheld that same amazing flavour and the ice was the cherry on top. It was subtle, but you definitely feel the cooling effect that so many of us love in our vapes…a simple but effective flavour done to perfection.

Apple Ice

All I can really say about Apple Ice by Flerbar is WOW! The apple flavour on display here is absolutely delicious. It was crisp, fresh tasting and there was enough sourness to make it feel just like the

SPECIFICATIONS:

Battery capacity: 500mAh E-liquid capacity: 2ml Puff count: 600

real thing. The ice is a fantastic addition to the flavour, really giving you that feeling of biting into a juicy, crisp golden apple. I absolutely adore this disposable and I can’t see myself going too long without searching out some more Apple Ice. All day vape for sure!

Blueberry

Blueberry is always a great flavour to vape and the different notes of sweet and tart fruitiness lent themselves perfectly to creating a satisfying and moreish flavour. Once again, the taste was fresh and authentic, like a thousand ripe blueberries dancing over your tastebuds. It was ultra-smooth and probably one of the easiest to vape disposables I’ve ever tried…I was genuinely upset when I finally ran out of puffs.

Grape

I genuinely believe Flerbar have one of the best grape flavours out on the market! This was a sweet vape with the taste notes of syrupy grapes blended together to create this purple-coloured nectar. I’m serious when I say this is one of the best grape flavours I’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling and one of the best disposable vapes I’ve ever used full stop. If you like grape get your hands on this Flerbar immediately, if you don’t like grape, I don’t care, get it anyway. I promise you’ll change your mind.

Battery capacity: 400mAh Coil: 1.2ohms

E-liquid capacity: 1.6ml (approx) Charging: USB-C

Words: Alex Shenker

The Kiwi is a new e-cigarette that’s been surrounded by quite a lot of hype, so I was certainly keen to give it a try.

Seeing what fresh innovations and new ideas are being brought to the table by new products is always interesting and I love the direction this device went in.

Right off the bat, the Kiwi I reviewed came with a lot of handy extras, including a plastic drip tip and some cigarette filter-like tips (which I’ll talk more about later).

I also received a nifty power bank that you can use to charge the device and, of course, the vape itself is included as well.

The Kiwi pen was very small and unassuming, being compact enough to fit into most pockets.

The pod on top was clear and easily replaced through a magnetic system and strangely, there were no buttons or switches on the body of the device at all.

Instead, it was completely draw activated; a great feature for beginners, as it helps the transition from smoking traditional cigarettes to vaping.

The pod contained a 1.2ohm non-replaceable coil, which means you have to swap out the whole pod when the coil burns out.

But on the positive side, they are really easy to refill – you simply pull the pod out and find the rubber bung on the side –and it holds around 1.6ml of e-liquid, another great feature for new vapers.

When you clip the pod back onto the pen you get a small vibration from the device that lets you know it's been connected properly.

The pen houses a 400mAh battery, which is a little low compared to some other pens on the market…but the power bank would help to combat that issue.

I was able to recharge the Kiwi pen around four times when the power bank is full, meaning I didn’t get caught out with an empty device.

The other unique aspect of the Kiwi is the cigarette filter drip tips – there are some included with the device but these can also be purchased in packets of different varieties and sizes.

Simply slot them into the top of the device, puff through them and it really does feel like you're smoking a cigarette rather than

a vape…brilliant for those who are in the early days of quitting.

It's another great idea from Kiwi and I really appreciate that they are putting so much work into easing the switching process.

In terms of performance, I was thoroughly impressed with the Kiwi, the 1.2ohm coil handled any 50/50 juice I threw at it without issue.

I would definitely recommend sticking to 50/50 with this device as I don't think it would handle anything thicker.

On average, I was able to put around 25ml of liquid through the pods before any sort of flavour drop off…pretty impressive!

I think overall I have to commend Kiwi on developing such a user-friendly device for beginners, I really think it could convince a lot of smokers to make the switch.

PROS

Easy to use

Power bank included

Cigarette filter drips tips

CONS

400mAh Battery (Not that it matters if you have the power bank)

POP DISPOSABLES

Words: Alex Shenker

SPECIFICATIONS:

Battery capacity: 650mAh Wattage: 8W

Puff count: 800 puffs

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

Juicy Grape

Juicy is definitely the best word to describe this vape, the grapes tasted like they were bursting with liquid and the flavour was syrupy sweet. It’s really hard to explain why, but this bar tasted just like the colour purple

It was the total embodiment of grapes that really needs to be vaped to truly understand how great it is…a seriously impressive offering from Moti!

Fresh Mint

Sometimes you just want a vape that you can kick back and relax with, just something easy and not too complicated…I personally found Fresh Mint to be the perfect flavour for that.

There isn’t a huge amount I can say about the flavour other than the fact that it was a perfect representation of mint in vape form. Easily an all-day vape, it was fresh and there was nothing in there to make it sickly or boring.

If you’re looking for something that’s refreshing, easy going and smooth, you really can’t go wrong with Fresh Mint.

Vanilla Sundae

Vanilla Sundae is a sweet and creamy offering that hits all of those dessert notes you’d want in a pudding vape. The initial flavour I got was the vanilla, an authentic tasting one with no synthetic or chemical notes in the slightest.

There was then a nice hint of ice as well, which gave the effect of eating ice cream…a great start! It was rounded off with some subtle hints of chocolate to create a beautiful ice cream sundae flavour which put a big wide smile on my face. It was mellow and sweet, creamy and luxurious. What a delight to vape!

Rich Tobacco

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with tobacco flavoured vapes…I would never usually choose them but I have tried many throughout the years.

Rich Tobacco goes down the sweeter route, with notes of caramel, vanilla and biscuit that I was a big fan of. It was luxurious tasting and there were so many different flavours to pick up on; I have to say I enjoyed every puff.

Peach Ice

Peach is such a fantastic flavour to vape. When done right it’s sweet and juicy tasting, it never gets boring and it seems to be universally loved. Of course Moti have done it justice and it was one of the nicest peach flavours I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying.

It was so sweet without being sickly and the ice was a fantastic addition that gave a kick to an already winning flavour. If you want something simple and fruity this is definitely going be the one you want go for. Be prepared for the flavour!

Lemon Tart

Moti have done a fantastic job with this flavour! The lemon curd filling was the first flavour I got on the inhale, which offered creamy and sweet flavour notes.

As I continued puffing, I started to get the pastry taste, which blended beautifully with the lemon to create a fantastic, wellrounded flavour. This lemon tart honestly blew me away!

I had the pleasure of reviewing six of the Moti Pop flavours for this review, this is how they held up:

ELEAF IJUST D20

Words: Peach Atkinson

Eleaf has paired simplicity with impressive performance in the iJust D20 which comes in a multitude of sleek and metallic colours.

The cylindrical exterior only features a fire button and a USB-C charging port and its small size makes it ideal for when you’re out and about.

The 1,500 mAh battery gave me enough power for a full day’s moderate vaping and the fast-charging time was definitely a bonus.

With a maximum power output of 30W, there are three power options, each accessed by three presses on the fire button. Low, medium and high power settings are shown by red, blue and green respectively.

I enjoyed vaping most when using the highest power output as the hit was far better than I had expected.

The 2ml TPD-compliant tanks were easily filled via a hole revealed under a sliding mechanism on the top of the tank itself. As a heavy vaper, I found I had to refill it about twice a day.

The magnetic tank sits flush on the top of the device and there was minimal rattling, something that is obviously a massive plus.

Airflow is fully adjustable via a rotating ring near the top of the device and the kit boasted a choice of either RDL or MTL vaping.

The iJust D20 also accommodates a few different GTL coil options (both the 1.2ohm and 0.8ohm coils are included with the kit) with each offering a different type of inhale.

I found that this device worked best with thinner e-liquids and is also ideal for mouth-to-lung vaping.

I paired the 1.2ohm coil with some 20mg nicotine salts and the result completely blew me away. The flavour was intense and I found a real boost to the fruity elements of my chosen e-liquid. Longevity on the 1.2ohm coils were decent and I had no issues with leaking or condensation, even during a brief heatwave (heat can cause e-liquids to thin and therefore increase the risk of leaking).

The coils were super easy to install as they are just pushed into the base of the tank, without the need to screw or unscrew the coil head.

Having a low price point, the Eleaf iJust D20 has an RRP of

SPECIFICATIONS:

Size - 136mm*20mm

Battery Size - 1500mAh Pod size - 2ml Output wattage - 30W Max

around £22.99, making it an affordable and well-performing starter kit.

Due to the iJust D20’s simplicity and compatibility with highstrength nicotine e-liquids, I feel its target audience would mainly be new vapers or smokers looking to cut down on their cigarette consumption.

PROS

Straightforward to use

No leaking

USB-C fast charging

Three different power outputs

CONS

It looks a little standard for pen-style devices

VAPES BARS GHOST RANGE

Words: Peach Atkinson

The Vapes Bars Ghost 800 disposable range comes pre-filled in a range of flavours all in 20mg strength nicotine salt.

Each pod is good for around 650 puffs and is colour coded by flavour, making it super easy to select your favourites.

These are the ones I tried:

RASPBERRY GRAPEFRUIT ORANGE

This flavour offered a bold and ambitious contrast between soft raspberry, bitter grapefruit and one of the sweetest oranges I’ve ever tried.

And, despite all being present and full-bodied in their own right, each flavour came together in a complementary jumble of fruity goodness.

The cherry on top was the hint of cooling agent on the exhale, which gave the other taste notes a small boost and elevated this refreshing concoction of flavours.

CINNAMON FIREBALL CANDY

Throughout all my years as a vaper, I haven’t come across a flavour quite like this.

Don’t get me wrong, I have tried plenty of dessert-based cinnamon flavours, but they often came alongside ice creams or apple pies.

So when I received this flavour, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

The cinnamon was powerful and had a certain spicy bite to it, even managing to replicate the hot sensation on the tip of my tongue.

And the low levels of sweetness would make this great for vapers who enjoy pleasant yet uncomplicated taste notes.

BLUEBERRY NRG

Being a fan of energy drinks, I was interested to see Vapes Bars’ take on the increasingly popular flavour profile.

Immediately I noticed soft and candy-like notes of blueberry, which were met with that distinctive and buzzing energy drink taste.

The strange combination worked really well and, to me, was something a little different to anything else out there.

SWEET & SOUR LEMON SHERBET

Probably my favourite of the bunch, this flavour perfectly replicated the tongue-tingling zest of a sherbet lemon boiled sweet.

Both the sour and fizzy sensation offered by the sherbet inside and the sugary citrus on the outside felt present.

I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer strength of this flavour, as it was both punchy and did not dissipate over time.

STRAWBERRY LIME

An unequivocally fruity and warm weather flavour, the contrast of fresh and crisp here works absolute wonders.

Complete with rich, deep notes of strawberry, there was an unmistakable wholeness to the flavour that oozed a summertime feel.

And combined with a sharp and zesty lime, this flavour was really unlike any other, making for a delicious and vibrant vape.

ZEUS JUICE - NEW FLAVOURS

DAPHNE

VG/PG: 70/30

An ecstatic combination of bright fruitiness and deep dessert notes, Daphne ticks all the boxes of a well-rounded e-liquid.

For me, the sharp and somewhat tangy blackberry introduced a solid and embracing vibe that matched up well will the sweeter elements also offered up in this flavour.

As hinted, this e-liquid manages to expertly match the tart blackberry notes with deep tones of rich, warm and creamy cheesecake.

I felt that the cheesecake side of things brought the berries together, mellowing out the vibrant fruitiness with a velvety softness.

To add to this e-liquid’s complexity, there was a side flavour of crumbly digestive biscuit base that really brought this offering from Zeus to life.

it was delicious.

HELIOS

VG/PG: 70/30

A decadent blend of ripe stone fruits, Helios is the perfect summertime flavour.

Enlisting a mixture of sweet and sour modalities, this e-liquid was as complex as

NESSIE

VG/PG: 70/30

Inspired by the unmistakeable Scottish, orange-coloured fizzy drink, ‘Nessie’ manages to encapsulate all of the hallmarks of this difficult-to-define flavour.

With a smooth cream soda type inhale, the

My initial taste when vaping this flavour was an obvious tangy and juicy peach, however, this soon made way for a smoother, lighter apricot.

The combination of two seemingly similar

fruits may evoke a feeling of simplicity but by no means is that the case - the balance between the two flavour elements was spot on and was super easy to get in to.

To me, there was very little cooling agent added, which I felt made this e-liquid stand out from the crowd.

flavour soon follows onto notes of sweet mixed fruits and then further on to juicy bubblegum.

As you can probably agree, describing this beverage flavoured e-liquid is difficult, as the drink itself is so distinctive in taste, however, its likeness to the real life product is uncanny.

It does carry a substantial level of effervescence that just adds to the realistic nature of this e-liquid.

As someone who is neither here nor there about the drink, I thoroughly enjoyed vaping it instead and its crisp set of flavours made it a true all day vape.

ATHENE

VG/PG: 70/30

A clear favourite of mine, ‘Athene’ just oozes tropical vibes.

With a delicate mixture of punchy, ripe watermelon and sweet, juicy strawberries,

APOLLO

VG/PG: 70/30

When it comes to a lot of e-liquids out there, most flavour constituents can be presented separately and co-exist next to one another.

Zeus, however, somehow manages to combine the flavours of raspberries and

this flavour is then rounded up with a broad and refreshing citrusy lemonade.

The juxtaposition of the bright watermelon and soft strawberry with the sour and bubbly lemonade makes for a complex and multi-layered e-liquid.

Not only did I enjoy the flavour as a whole,

but also enjoyed the experience of picking out all of the sub-flavours whilst vaping.

Zeus Juice has nailed all of the complexities of a decent fruit-based e-liquid and the collection of clear, independent elements managed to combine into a super easy to vape flavour that is designed with fruit fans in mind.

blueberries in to one.

The raspberries seem to have the tartness of the blueberries and the blueberries seem to have the sweetness of the raspberries.

Now, this is an incredibly difficult concept to try and describe through words, but when you try it, you will know exactly what I mean.

The amalgamation of berries is offset by a strong and powerful lemonade that boosted the bright and vivacious feel to this e-liquid in its entirety.

Personally, I found that the intensely complex blend of fruity flavours was executed flawlessly and therefore made it a clear choice for warm weather vaping.