WHO’s Anti-Vaping Threat
The World Health Organization’s persistent anti-vaping agenda is a real threat to global progress on reducing smoking, says the World Vapers’ Alliance
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by Dave Cross
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World Vape Day took place on 30th May, and the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) called out the World Health Organization (WHO) for ignoring science and putting millions of lives at risk with its ongoing crusade against vaping and other harm reduction technologies. While the WHO prepared for its annual World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, the World Vapers’ Alliance said it continues to push outdated narratives and policies that actively undermine global efforts to end smoking.
The World Health Organization said: “This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
“The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a ‘a world no-smoking day.’ In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.”
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance commented: “Every year, the WHO’s World No Tobacco Day is a missed opportunity. Instead of celebrating innovation and life-saving nicotine alternatives, the WHO spreads fear and misinformation about vaping. Their anti-vaping agenda is not just wrong—it’s dangerous.”
The World Vapers’ Alliance believes that countries which have embraced harm reduction, such as Sweden and the UK, are achieving record-low smoking rates and saving lives.
In stark contrast, the World Vapers’ Alliance says, the World Health Organization continues to ignore overwhelming scientific evidence showing that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking and far more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies. By calling for bans and restrictions, the World Health Organization appears to be trying to push ex-smokers back to cigarettes and stalling progress towards a smoke-free future.
The World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day 2025 website likens vapes to cigarettes and attacks eliquid flavours that have been shown to be the reason why ecigs work so well as a smoking cessation tool.
The WHO is claiming:
- Vape companies “use insidious strategies to make their harmful products appealing”
- Vape companies use “manipulative product designs, attractive flavours, and glamourized marketing” to “evoke desirability”
- Vapes “are highly addictive and designed to sustain use, trapping users in a cycle of dependence”
- “Stricter regulations” are needed because vape companies “trick people with their playbook”
Landl concluded: “The WHO should be leading the fight against smoking, not fighting against the very tools and technologies that are making the biggest difference. It’s time for the WHO to listen to science and the real-life experiences of millions who have quit smoking thanks to vaping.”
The World Vapers’ Alliance is urging policymakers to scrutinise the World Health Organization’s position and focus on what truly works to reduce smoking-related harm.
Photo Credit:
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash, cropped, resized and logo added
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
