Three quarters of voters across three swing states in the U.S. believe that vaping is “as bad or worse” for your health than smoking, a new poll has found.
The survey, released by the Vapor Technology Association (VTA), reveals that only 12 per cent of voters think vaping is better for you than smoking cigarettes and other nicotine products.
Despite smoking killing eight million people globally per year and vaping not being linked to any tobacco-related diseases, 75 per cent of respondents said vaping is at least as bad as smoking. The remaining 13 per cent said they were ‘unsure.’
Former Donald Trump official Kellyanne Conway’s firm conducted the research, which surveyed 600 registered voters in each of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“This is the direct result of the [Food and Drug Administration’s] failure to truthfully and adequately inform Americans about the dramatically lower risks of vaping, particularly when compared to cigarettes, even though their leaders have admitted to that fact,” the VTA said.
‘The danger of failing to honestly present the science’
“Further, the results illustrate the power of education and the danger of failing to honestly present the science when it comes to the issue of flavoured e-cigarettes.”
Once respondents were informed about studies showing vapes to be far less harmful than tobacco, the majority expressed opposition to outright bans on vapes.
In Wisconsin, respondents went from 62 per cent in favour of a ban of flavoured vapes to 51 per cent opposed.
This trend continued across all political affiliations in both Michigan (55 per cent in favour to 54 per cent opposed) and Pennsylvania (58 per cent in favour to 54 per cent opposed) once voters became more informed.
“In this survey, we find voters favour common-sense reform over outright bans that put science over politics, to reduce harm and protect vulnerable communities like youth,” Conway said.
Voters advocate for less government intrusion
Still, a majority of respondents in all three states said they favour “fair and reasonable regulations” on vape access and marketing for young people who are most at risk of addiction.
The minimum age of 21 for both cigarettes and vapes was signed into law in the U.S. by then-President Donald Trump in 2019.
“Voters tend to agree with statements that advocate for less government intrusion and present vaping as a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers,” the VTA said.
