March 6th, 2015

Public health experts talking sense about e-cigarettes and vaping

Public Health England recently published some excellent video commentaries on vaping and e-cigarettes by genuinely thoughtful and engaged public health experts – I have collected them here. These are intended for an English audience, but they deserve a much wider airing because they show what public health could be like if it actually approached the subject with an open and enquiring mind, regard for evidence and an attitude of humility and empathy.

Expert commentaries

Professor Ann McNeill, Kings College London

Distinguishing between vaping and smoking



Professor John Britton, University of Nottingham

Protecting bystanders



Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking and Health

Protecting children and young people



Professor Robert West, University College London

Supporting smokers to stop



Ian Gray, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Impact on compliance with smokefree laws & policies



Contrasting commentaries

For each of the expert views put forward, a ‘contrasting view’ is presented. The contrasts are primarily about doubts or caution about hypothetical risks in most cases. In the case of Andy McEwan and Peter Astley their presentations aren’t really a contrast at all. But I think these give useful idea of the strength of argument and evidence that stands behind the concerns of some in public health.

Cecilia Farren, GASP (a consultancy)

Contrasting view: Distinguishing between vaping and smoking



Andrea Crossfield, Tobacco Free Futures:

Contrasting view: Protecting bystanders



Professor Gerard Hastings, University of Stirling:

Contrasting view: Protecting children and young people

