PHE Misses the Mark

Following on from the “Evidence Update” in September 2015, Public Health England has done it again. In fact, they have gone as far as repeating the same mistakes as last time, by mentioning the word “prescription”, and/or “NHS” in the press release.

Via the BBC:

Erm, no. As I’ve said before, e-cigarettes are a consumer-driven innovation, not a medicine. I am no fan of a medicalised e-cigarette, never have been and never will be. It’s almost as if PHE have no clue why e-cigs have been so popular and successful, isn’t it?

As Puddlecote rightly points out:

Exactly right. Yes, the variety of both device and liquid options can be overwhelming, but the variety exists for a bloody good reason doncha think? Vaping exists thanks in large part to the first commercially viable device from Hon Lik, and the problem with PHE sticking their oversized snouts into a consumer product is that they’ll end up driving folks away from the products in their drive to make them cessation products.

Well no, there isn’t. BAT withdrew the eVoke because it was shite, in any case, why would manufacturers want to make a medicinally approved device? What’s in it for them? Considering that, as it stands, the only entities capable of getting anywhere close to the requirements are the tobacco companies. Smaller manufacturers (relatively speaking) like Aspire or Innokin, simply do not have the financial backing for it.

It gets worse. Via The Telegraph:

Considering that hospitals are being told, by PHE to stop selling sugary drinks and snacks, they’ll be less inclined to sell e-cigarettes as many of them are including e-cigs in the “Smoke-Free Hospital” shenanigans.

Why? Would you offer single occupancy rooms for smokers? Of course, you bloody wouldn’t! The simple fact of offering vapers preferential treatment is blatant coercion – “here, you can still enjoy nicotine by vaping!” who the hell made you judge, jury and executioner eh?

Well, whose bloody fault is it that the public has such a poor perception of vaping? It couldn’t be the rise of terrible press releases copied ad-infinitum about “cancer-causing chemicals” and “gateway to smoking” could it?

The thing is PHE, you had a grand opportunity to reveal to the public any number of your report highlights, instead, you took the opportunity to spin the NHS/prescription angle. You bungled it. Again.

As for you ASH, you can fuck off too.

These people just don’t get it, do they?