The year 2023, marked by the first real post-Covid period and significant inflation impacting purchasing power, was a period of challenges and notable developments in the field of electronic cigarettes and nicotine substitutes in France. The predicted disappearance of puffs, combined with the threat of new taxes and a potential ban on the flavors at the European level, has highlighted a period of uncertainty, despite tepid domestic political support. This article is based on public analyzes of the media in our sector, and the least we can say is that they reveal a year of twists and adaptations.
Among the notable events, the massive reduction in the consumption of conventional cigarettes in Japan, by around 50% in seven years, was highlighted. This development, attributed not to public health policies but to marketing strategies around heated tobacco devices, contrasts with the position of many countries seeking to limit alternatives to combustible cigarettes.
In terms of public health, the year saw a historically low prevalence of cigarette smoking among certain social groups, notably among young women in Norway and adolescents in the United States, demonstrating the possibility of eradicating this behavior in certain segments of the population.
However, the opposition of many experts and entities around the WHO to the cigarette-related harm reduction strategy, enshrined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, has been criticized. This opposition, considered dogmatic and not very sensitive to scientific evidence, contrasts with progress in recognizing the effectiveness of risk reduction strategies, as evidenced by the 2023 Cochrane review.
The year was also marked by controversies surrounding the flavor ban in the United States, which was accompanied by a drop in e-liquid sales and an increase in cigarette sales, highlighting the public health challenges associated with such policies.
At the international level, (the only good news) Emphasis has been placed on the potential of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool, with studies confirming their superior effectiveness to traditional nicotine replacement therapies. This recognition comes in a context where certain initiatives, such as the French ban on disposable electronic cigarettes, are criticized for their lack of scientific basis..
In conclusion, the year 2023 was a period of challenges, controversies, but also significant progress in the understanding and acceptance of strategies to reduce the risks associated with smoking. The outlook for 2024 suggests a continuation of these debates, with particular attention to the environmental implications of disposable products and the need for balanced regulation, based on scientific evidence, to promote the reduction of smoking while minimizing risks to health. public health.
To deepen these analyzes and perspectives, complementary sources such as the work of the Cochrane Review 2023 and the WHO positions on tobacco-related harm reduction provide essential scientific and contextual insight. These references, among other studies and sector reports, help to establish the observations and forecasts stated, reflecting the complexity and dynamics of the field of electronic cigarettes and nicotine substitutes.
Without wanting to play the Cassandres, and in the light of a first quarter marked by virulent attacks against vaping, there is no doubt that 2024 must be watched like milk on the fire... It will undoubtedly be a pivotal year which will have a profound impact on vaping years to come.
