Riot Labs challenges UK government with Boris Johnson statue to defend vaping industry
A bold initiative to raise awareness of legislative issues
E-liquid maker Riot Labs has made a splash by delivering a life-size replica of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Westminster in a move aimed at putting vaping legislation back on the agenda for the new Labour government.
Rishi Sunak's tough restrictions
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attempted to introduce some of the world's toughest anti-smoking rules, including bans on disposable e-cigarettes, flavours and brands. Riot Labs said the measures would have been "a disaster for the vaping industry and the millions of adult smokers looking to quit".
Legislative failure before the elections
Sunak's bill failed to become law before he called an election, but Labour recently expressed its commitment to a generational tobacco ban.
The importance of flavors for vapers
A recent study conducted by One Poll and commissioned by the UK Vaping Industry Association found that 83% of vapers surveyed believe flavours have helped them quit smoking. The study also found that one in three respondents (around 1,5 million vapers) believe a flavour ban would lead them back to traditional cigarettes.
Warnings from health experts
The Royal College of Physicians has also warned against a blanket restriction on flavours available to adults, saying that "the use of flavours by adults trying to quit smoking is an integral part of the effectiveness of vaping as a cessation aid".
A continuing fight for the vaping sector
“This has been a tumultuous year for the vaping industry, with the government trying—and ultimately failing—to rush through unjustified new vaping laws that would have been dangerous for millions of adult smokers trying to quit,” said Ben Johnson, CEO of Riot Labs.
“The reality of Sunak’s vaping legislation is that it will give people less choice, less value and ultimately less reason to quit smoking. Now that Labour is in power, tobacco and vaping policy will be back on the long to-do list, and we will lead the fight with decision-makers to defend the vaping sector.”
A series of actions to defend the cause
The Boris Johnson spat comes a month after Riot Labs and Northampton vape shop Right Vape criticised vaping legislation with the opening of ‘The Flavourless Vape Shop’. Opened by a Rishi Sunak lookalike named Sanju, the shop’s launch took an unexpected turn when ‘Rishi Sunak’ was pelted with eggs by an angry member of the public who mistook him for the real prime minister.
“We overwhelmingly support laws to tackle youth vaping, such as a fully funded licensing system for retailers, but we strongly disagree with the government’s approach to a flavour ban,” added Ben Johnson.
