World Vape Day: BAT Kenya urges for a smokeless future

As World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day are marked on May 30 and 31, BAT Kenya is calling for greater collaboration to accelerate the transition to a smokeless world.

Until recently, efforts to reduce the harm of smoking relied solely on traditional tobacco control measures aimed at discouraging cigarette use. 

BAT says adult smokers who do not quit have access to a growing range of potentially less harmful alternatives.

These smokeless products including vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, emit significantly fewer toxicants than conventional cigarettes. 

Managing Director of BAT Kenya and General Manager for East and Southern Africa Markets Crispin Achola said the company's rollout of smokeless products in Kenya reflects its commitment to innovation and harm reduction.

“Our introduction of smokeless products, such as oral nicotine pouches, demonstrates our efforts to meet the evolving preferences of adult smokers while transforming our business,” Achola stated. 

“Tobacco control remains important, but reducing the harm associated with smoking requires open dialogue, scientific research, and broad-based collaboration.”

Countries that have embraced such alternatives, including Japan, Sweden, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, have seen notable declines in smoking rates.

Sweden stands out as a case study in the success of Tobacco Harm Reduction. 

Over the past three decades, many Swedes have switched from smoking to using snus, a traditional oral tobacco product. 

More recently, newer smokeless products have gained traction, particularly where governments tax them based on their lower risk compared to cigarettes. 

Despite having similar overall tobacco use per capita to the EU average, Sweden has the lowest smoking prevalence in the EU at just 5.3%.