Vapeboss – Chairman of the Indonesian Vapers Alliance (AVI), Johan Sumantri, stated that alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches have been scientifically proven to reduce risks by up to 95 percent compared to conventional cigarettes.

This fact is based on the findings of the Executive Agency of the UK Department of Health, Public Health England, in their Evidence Review of E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products (2018).

According to Johan, adult smokers and consumers of alternative tobacco products have not yet received comprehensive information regarding the fact that alternative tobacco products are lower risk.

“We cannot confirm whether consumers have been exposed to accurate information about the risk profile of alternative tobacco products,” said Johan.

He mentioned that the government needs to massively socialize domestic scientific studies related to alternative tobacco products to the public so that information can be more widely disseminated and misinformation about these products can be prevented.

“Besides the quantity or transparency related to research on alternative tobacco products, we also hope that these scientific studies are massively socialized to all consumers so that we can make fact-based decisions,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumers Association (AKVINDO), Paido Siahaan, echoed Johan’s sentiment. He agreed that the government should immediately promote scientific studies on alternative tobacco products with domestic academics so that consumers receive comprehensive information.

“For accurate information, scientific studies or literature reviews, like those conducted by the School of Pharmacy at Bandung Institute of Technology (SF-ITB), are needed so that consumers can properly understand the differences in risk profiles,” explained Paido.

Paido continued that the lack of information regarding scientific studies on alternative tobacco products would hinder the process for adult smokers who wish to switch to lower-risk nicotine delivery alternative products.

“Misinformation causes a war of opinions that ultimately harms adult smokers in switching to lower-risk products,” he concluded.

Source: Tribunnews