MVA Survey Reveals Strong Opposition to Vape Display Ban
A recent survey by the Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) found that most vape users oppose the upcoming retail display ban under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). The survey, with nearly 500 responses, showed that 71.3% of vapers disagree with the ban, citing the inability to browse products (39.7%) and difficulties in purchasing (38.3%).
MVA Survey Highlights Vape Opposition
The findings also revealed that if the ban is enforced, 47.4% of users might turn to illegal alternatives, while 44.5% may return to smoking cigarettes. Only 8.1% of respondents said they would quit vaping altogether.
MVA president Khairil Azizi Khairuddin expressed concerns, warning that restricting access to legitimate products could push consumers to unregulated markets, undermining vaping as a harm-reduction tool. He urged regulators to reconsider the ban and highlighted that most vapers (74.4%) are either ex-smokers or transitioning from smoking, with 81.9% using nicotine liquids below 40mg.
Khairil called on the Ministry of Health to rethink the ban and focus on regulations that encourage smokers to switch to vaping rather than driving users to illegal markets or back to smoking.