Dr. Polosa Persuades Italy to Exempt Vape Shops from Trading Restrictions
Riccardo Polosa persuaded Italian authorities to exempt vape shops from the COVID-19 lockdown. Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries outside China, imposed some of the world’s strictest restrictions.
Dr. Riccardo Polosa, a world-renowned scientist and researcher in vaping and tobacco harm reduction, successfully persuaded the Italian authorities to exempt vape shops from the coronavirus lockdown.
Outside China, Italy faced one of the most severe pneumonia outbreaks, forcing the government to implement some of the strictest measures in the world. All public gatherings were banned, while schools and most businesses, including bars and restaurants, were shut down.
At first, vape shops were included on the list of stores that had to close, but the award-winning Dr. Riccardo Polosa explained why it was absurd to keep tobacco retailers open while shutting stores that sell safer alternatives. “I had some objections. The next morning, I issued a few strong public statements.”
Polosa is the founder of the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) in Catania, Italy, and has published dozens of studies on vaping-related topics. In an interview with Filter, he explained why he believed it was wrong to keep tobacco shops open while closing vape stores.
Making harm reduction a priority
Fortunately, on March 13, the Ministry of Health and the Italian Prime Minister issued a statement saying that vape shops, in addition to tobacco shops, would also be allowed to remain open. “We set an example for the world, even though our government has been hostile toward vaping products and very aggressive in its COVID-19 emergency response. Even so, they placed great importance on the needs of people who use vaping products in Italy. By doing so, they acknowledged the importance of vaping products and their relative safety,” Polosa concluded.
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