South African Study Says Most Vape Users Still Smoke

According to foreign media reports on July 2, South Africa’s Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill was first announced last May by Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla and is currently under review. The bill proposes stricter regulations on vaping devices and limits the use, marketing, and sale of certain tobacco products in South Africa. In addition, it would include a provision allowing the government to implement a 100% public smoking ban.

In fact, the vast majority of studies showing that e-cigarettes are effective for smoking cessation have been conducted by public health bodies independent of the vaping industry or, worse, the tobacco industry. The troubling aspect of this bill is that it does not acknowledge the relative benefits of tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes, and would regulate them in the same way as conventional cigarettes.

Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, director of the African Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, supports the move, saying local research rebuts what he claims are industry-created assertions about the product’s relative safety.

He referred to several studies jointly conducted by the African Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, the University of Pretoria, and the South African Medical Research Council (MRC), which allegedly show that more than 95% of vape users continue to smoke, and that only a small number successfully quit for more than six months. This research has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"While the tobacco and vaping industries like to position e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids, the facts are that these products have limited effectiveness for long-term quitting, there are health risks associated with their use, and the industry engages in explicit and targeted marketing toward young people," Ayo-Yusuf said.

Meanwhile, countless studies from around the world indicate the exact opposite. Moreover, contrary to Ayo-Yusuf’s claims, most of the research reaching conclusions different from his has been conducted by public health bodies independent of the vaping industry or, worse, the tobacco industry.

In fact, PHE’s (Public Health England) seventh independent report on vaping in the UK highlighted the following:

Vaping devices were the most popular aid used by smokers trying to quit in England in 2020 (27.2%).

More than 50,000 smokers quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes in 2017.

38% of smokers believe e-cigarettes are just as harmful as smoking, while 15% believe they are even more harmful.

Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA), said while commenting on the PHE report that those who continue to vilify e-cigarettes are simply rejecting the scientific evidence.

"Today’s report from the UK public health authorities is good news for vape users. It further confirms that e-cigarettes are a way to quit smoking. Those who continue to claim that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking should take the time to read the science. Listening to the science is something we have heard a lot about recently with COVID, and hopefully those who constantly criticize e-cigarettes will do so this time. They cannot keep cherry-picking only the science that suits them."