Vaping Advocate Challenges Tobacco Bill, Urges Evidence-Based Harm Reduction Approach

To see full presentation, click here.

At a parliamentary hearing on the proposed Tobacco Product and Electronic Delivery System Control Bill (B33–2022), Kurt Yeo, co-founder of Vaping Saved My Life (VSML), raised concerns about the bill’s unintended consequences on public health, harm reduction, and personal freedoms.

Yeo, an advisor to global vaping alliances and a scholar in tobacco harm reduction, presented data highlighting the rise of smoking in South Africa, where an estimated 11.1 million adults currently smoke, up from 6.7 million in 2012. He warned that prohibition-style regulation could exacerbate the crisis by fueling illicit cigarette trade, which now accounts for over 67% of the market.

Key Data and Concerns

• Smoking-related deaths in SA are estimated at 32,000–40,000 per year.

• Illicit tobacco market share surged from ~5% in 2009 to nearly 60% in 2022.

• Over 50% of daily smokers in SA started before the age of 18.

• E-cigarettes and vaping are used by a growing segment of adults attempting to quit, but access remains limited by cost and regulation.

Harm Reduction vs. Prohibition

Yeo emphasised harm reduction as a public health strategy, citing research showing nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies in helping smokers quit. He argued that adult access to less harmful alternatives should be protected, not penalised.

“People smoke for the nicotine but die from the tar.” — Michael Russell, harm reduction pioneer

He cautioned that standardised packaging may undermine counterfeit detection, referencing past incidents such as the EVALI lung injury outbreak in the US, which was linked to illicit products.

Youth Use and Addiction

The hearing also addressed youth vaping, citing a 2023 Department of Basic Education survey:

• 17% of learners reported current vaping use.

• Over 38% of daily vapers used e-cigarettes every day.

• High dependence scores were recorded among learners, with over 60% classified as highly dependent.

Yeo argued that while youth protection is crucial, policy must distinguish between adult smokers and underage users, suggesting that prohibition without support may push both into unsafe, unregulated markets.

 Scientific Backing

The presentation cited over eight major evidence reviews, including the Cochrane Review (2025), which concluded that e-cigarettes lead to higher quit rates than other cessation methods. Calls were made for policymakers to integrate cessation support into healthcare systems, as required by the WHO’s FCTC Article 14—still not implemented in South Africa.

Final Position

Yeo urged Parliament to consider a balanced, evidence-based approach to tobacco and nicotine regulation—one that:

• Reduces harm while protecting public health,

• Respects individual choice and rights,

• Combats illicit trade through transparency, and

• Encourages cessation by expanding access to safer alternatives.