Health Policy

Millions of smokers worldwide are quitting by using tobacco harm reduction products. Now it’s countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East’s turn.

THR health policies in practice

Worldwide research shows that although more than 70% of smokers want to quit, only 4-7% succeed. Governments that have adopted THR policies are seeing the smoking rates drop thanks to nicotine alternatives.

In Japan and South Korea, smoking rates have dropped dramatically after the introduction of heat-not-burn alternative nicotine products.

The introduction of heat-not-burn products in Japan has seen cigarette sales drop by 47.5% since 2016 (Filter).

In New Zealand the smoking rate decreased dramatically as the vaping rate increased, and the country’s health authorities have publicly acknowledged the role vaping plays in reaching smoke-free targets.

In the UK, four major hospitals are now giving out free starter packs to smokers. Vaping helps 50,000-70,000 smokers quit in the UK every year. (Addiction)

Nicotine pouches have helped Sweden achieve the lowest smoking rates in Europe and the lowest rate of tobacco-related mortality, (Royal College of Physicians).

700,000 smokers have quit thanks to vaping in France, (European Journal of Public Health).

Modelling shows progressive vaping policies can help 200 million smokers to quit worldwide, (World Vapers Alliance).

Asia Pacific and the Middle East needs to act

One of the main problems affecting the Asia Pacific Middle East region is the use of combustible tobacco and the restrictive regulation of less harmful alternatives.

Switching to less harmful products and/or quitting tobacco altogether can save hundreds of millions of lives.

Smoking rates in Asia Pacific Middle East are stagnating or increasing, with the smoking rate for men in China and India steadily increasing. The majority of the world’s smokers live in the Asia Pacific Middle East region – primarily in China, India, and Indonesia.

Families in Asia Pacific and the Middle East are suffering more than most. 90% of deaths from non-communicable diseases occur in low and middle-income countries.

In East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand, e-cigarettes are entirely banned.

In Australia, e-cigarettes are only available by prescription from a GP.

Adult smokers deserve access to reliable, accurate information about reduced-risk products.

Modelling shows that progressive vaping policies can help:

76.5 million smokers quit in China
28.95 million smokers quit in India
6.2 million smokers quit in Bangladesh
4.3 million smokers quit in Japan
4.35 million smokers quit in the Philippines

THR regulation principles

THR regulation should aim to maximise the number of smokers switching to safer, smoke-free products;

Public health strategies should focus on addressing misperceptions that hamper adult smokers from adoption of potentially harm reducing smoke-free products;

It should also strike the balance between ensuring that nicotine products remain accessible and as safe as possible without compromising their appeal to smokers.