After many months of preparation, Vape Live is back, this time, from the USA (virtually)!
Education plays a huge role at Vape Live, so it’s been great to once again bring a host of speakers from both sides of the Atlantic to talk all things vaping and tobacco harm reduction.
Introduction to VOXPO and Vape Live
The day opened with a spirited rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner from Innevape’s patriotic CEO, Jeff Connell.
You’ll be seeing (and hearing!) plenty of Jeff over the weekend, so stay tuned for more.
Vapouround editor Patrick Griffin’s passionate intro set the tone for the days ahead, touching on the huge potential of vaping and the challenges the industry continues to face.
Health scares such as last year’s EVALI ‘epidemic’ have turned the public against vaping, especially in the US.
The tragedy here, Patrick explained, is that smokers are being put off a less-harmful alternative to toxic, combustible tobacco.
Patrick hopes Vape Live will be the catalyst for smokers to make the switch to vaping for good.
“People in this industry genuinely all share one thing: they love to talk about their journey from smoking to vaping and they love to tell how e-cigarettes and how this industry can help people’s lives for the better.
“We really hope that people leave after these three days more educated and more informed about vaping than they were when they entered.”
Patrick Griffin, Vapouround
Vaping Product Trends in the US with Carlo Infurna Wangüemert, Market Analyst, ECigIntelligence
The US vape industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace due to new regulations, opportunities and often misplaced health scares.
ECigIntelligence provides tools and data to help users navigate the complex global landscape.
Carlo gave a fascinating insight into the forces currently at play in the US and what we can expect in the months to come.
He explained that forces such as EVALI, the PMTA and COVID-19 are have all had an impact over the past year.
Carlo explained that the pre-filled pod market has changed a lot due to the federal flavour ban and market leaders like JUUL streamlining their product ranges.
What was once a huge and varied market has been simplified.
Meanwhile, refillable pods are growing in popularity, with pod devices becoming for versatile and popular.
Nicotine salts have had a huge impact in the US, thanks again to JUUL and others.
However, Carlo noted that nicotine salt strength is now on decline in the US.
As for flavours, sweet and candy e-liquids are continuing to grow in popularity, Carlo said.
However, this is not reflected in the marketplace.
“Consumer preferences for sweet and candy have been increasing, but it’s offer has not.
“This might be explained by a higher regulatory pressure on these products.”
Carlo Infurna Wangüemert, ECigIntelligence
Tobacco and menthol are, unsurprisingly the big winners, as they have been unaffected by local flavour bans.
American Vape Index and the Impact on Flavour Bans in the USA. With Yael Ossowski, Deputy Director, Consumer Choice Center.
The Vaping Index ranks every state based of how fairly and strongly vape products are controlled.
The index takes into account flavour restrictions, taxes and the availability of online sales.
States with 0-10 points get an ‘F’, 11-20 a ‘C’ and 21-30 an ‘A’.
Green states include South Carolina, Oregon and Georgia.
Red states are largely Democratic including New York, Mass, Rhode Island and Illinois.
Campaign to Keep Vape Shops Open during Coronavirus Lockdown with Nigel Quine, Cuts Ice
The UK is a world-leader in championing vaping for tobacco harm-reduction. Public Health England, the Royal College of Physicians and Cancer Research UK have all publicly states that vaping is much less harmful than smoking.
But despite the UK government acknowledging vaping’s potential, vape shops have been declared non-essential businesses once again in ‘Lockdown 2’.
Nigel Quine has drafted a template letter for vape shops to send to their MP. But it doesn’t stop there.
“The key stakeholders are actually the smokers and vapers. Any of those people who can write their own letters talking about their experience with vape shops to their local MP, that will absolutely help.”
Nigel Quine, Cuts Ice
