Lessons from 'Backfired - The Vaping Wars': Implications for UK Regulation

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - quick review of 'Backfired - The Vaping Wars' a 9 part podcast from Audible by Leon Neyfakh. Really enlightening & important takeaways for UK regulation:

* By demonising one company, Juul & banning just vape pods, the FDA stimulated the market for disposables and the free-for-all began

- Beware loopholes & think through the unintended consequences of banning just disposables here

* Companies will innovated themselves into a market that makes money. Juul was the fastest growing company ever - 7 x faster than SnapChat, 5x than Twitter and 4x than Facebook, when they were disabled others took their place.

- Nicotine really sells, don't underestimate companies' ability to innovate themselves a market. (BTW, they've innovated away from disposables already)

* By focusing on 'tobacco' not 'nicotine' they allowed synthetic nicotine vapes to take over & missed the Chinese takeover of the sector.

- A narrow concern with tobacco companies here, meant we missed China's iMiracle - ElfBar & Lost Mary who wiped the floor with the competition by ignoring all regulations & ethical concerns about marketing to kids.

* There are so many small players the sector is now almost unenforceable.

* Marketing works. Companies are shameless.
- Don't allow it.

* Nicotine vapes are pretty safe. But they are super-addictive by design. This soon becomes no fun for many people.

- You can't get them out of your head - 'where's my vape', 'can I do it in the lift?', 'how long will it last', 'can I last this meeting/lesson?' 'I need another vape break already', 'am I going to be stuck with this thing forever?'
- People of all ages need support and help to quit. Make sure you fund it properly.

James Bethell - some thoughts for the Lords debate perhaps?