UK-based e-liquid and disposable vape company, Riot Labs, has sent a pointed message to the World Health Organisation (WHO) ahead of World No Tobacco Day (31st May)
The calendar event was created by the WHO in 1987, and has since been used to encourage smokers across the globe to quit smoking.
But using World No Tobacco Day 2022, Riot Labs has called out the WHOs hypocrisy for its flaky, and scientifically dubious, stance on vaping to quit smoking.
The WHO has consistently advised against vaping, despite established evidence and scientific reports from health organisations such as the NHS, promoting vaping as one of the highest success rate tools to kick the habit.
This morning, Riot Labs sent a large ad van on a journey across the UK to Dover, where it will then head to the WHO headquarters based in Geneva – in a bid to spark a reaction, and change, from the organisation.
The advert depicts WHO leader, Dr Tedros, who shot to prominence during the pandemic – with a cigarette in his mouth and asks: WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING, DR TEDROS?
Eagle-eyed Brits took to Twitter after spotting the ad van as it headed across the UK, before it queued-up at Dover port with the iconic cliffs in the background.
Riot Labs hopes the controversial advert will trigger a rethink from the WHO. Despite being warned of the legal ramifications of sending the controversial message to Geneva, the award-winning e-liquid producer is willing to take the risk.
An extensive NHS report in released in 2020 revealed vaping boasted a 59.7% – 74% quit-success rate* – placing it above other commonly adopted methods, such as nicotine patches. Public Health England, including national treasure, Professor Chris Witty, also promote vaping as an effective means to quit.
The same report revealed vaping helped over 50,000 cigarette smokers quit in 2017*. The provocative stunt has also received the backing from leading publications and experts in the vape sector.
UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has even been lambasted by MPs in the past for Britain to leave the WHO over their stance on vaping – whilst scientists and other opinion leaders have backed vaping as leading method to get smokers off cigarettes.
Ben Johnson, Founder and CEO of Riot Labs, said:
“Quite frankly, it’s a disgrace that the WHO use one of their calendar events like World No Tobacco Day to preach to smokers all over the globe to quit – without supporting one of the best, and proven, methods to quit in vaping.
We are more than happy to risk taking one for the team by sending the advert to the WHO headquarters, and to have bodies like the UKVIA support the message is great.
Riot Labs has shown time and again, it’s commitment to help smokers stub out the fags through initiatives like our 4-step plan. Ultimately, our mission is to achieve a smoke free world.”
