The second E-Cigarette Summit is taking place in London today.
Last year I went as an observer and wrote about it here: The E-Cigarette Summit (2013) – another view.
This time I'm following it on Twitter in the 'comfort' of my office.
I'm told there are more speakers this year but a striking number are the same as before and I'm not sure I want to listen to them yet again or watch ASH CEO Deborah Arnott bewitch some of the more credulous vapers into thinking she's their friend.
That was one of the things I took away from last year's event and from what I can tell she's at it again:
@Hifistud Playing to the gallery. Learned from last year when she took a relatively hard line then backtracked to try and win vaper friends
— Consumer Choice (@Action_Choice) November 13, 2014One thing I do agree with Deborah is on this:
Deborah Arnott - ecig products available now aren't good enough for many smokers, makes quitting using them still quite hard. #eCigSummit
— Jon Fell (@JonFell73) November 13, 2014In my non-expert opinion second generation e-cigs (including the ones that look like sonic screwdrivers) are unlikely ever to be more than a niche market.
If there is to be further growth in the e-cigarette market – far beyond where it is now – it will come (I think) from the next generation of cigalikes, or the ones after that, because Deborah is right – the current generation are simply not good enough for most smokers.
The question is, who has the money to research and develop an e-cigarette that satisfies millions of consumers? The answer, I humbly suggest, is Big Tobacco but the tobacco control industry is driven by an irrational hatred of the tobacco industry that is as counter-productive as it is absurd.
Also, if companies are to spend huge sums of money developing popular brands of e-cigarette, it makes no sense to impose disproportionate restrictions on how they are marketed. And yet, if you listened to Deborah this week, it seems that is exactly what ASH wants to do.
Here's the rub:
I understand that, speaking at the E-Cigarette Summit today, Deborah expressed her concern at any long-term use of nicotine, whatever the delivery system. In her eyes it's a lifelong expensive addiction (which may be true) but she doesn't get it, does she?
The point is it's none of her or anyone else's business how we spend our money and live our lives. Until she and her cronies in the public health industry understand that very simple fact they will never be a friend of the vaper because their goal is to wean everyone off a 'lifelong expensive addiction', whatever it takes.
Arnott - reiterates her personal thoughts on nicotine use. Life long expensive addiction. #ecigsummit
— Lorien Jollye (@CaeruleanSea) November 13, 2014Anyway I'm not missing the E-Cigarette Summit, probably because I'm a bit weary of conferences. It's quite rare to attend one and not be bored to tears.
That said, the first E-Cigarette Summit was quite entertaining, partly because there was a good range of speakers with a variety of 'expert' opinion.
It's neither an industry nor a tobacco control event, which is refreshing. Nevertheless like all conferences it's easy to be institutionalised over coffee and biscuits and leave thinking an adversary is now a friend.
Last year, for example, I was beguiled during a break by Stirling University's Linda Bauld and I now defy anyone (Chris Snowdon, Dick Puddlecote) to say a word against her.
Best not to go at all.
Ironically, while the growth of the e-cigarette market is said by some to have stalled, e-cig or nicotine delivery conferences are thriving.
Earlier this year ASH Scotland 'co-ordinated' the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance Electronic Cigarette Summit
In June 200 delegates attended the first Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw; later this month London hosts the Next Generation Nicotine Delivery conference; and next month the e-cigarette industry hosts E-Cig London.
I've no idea how much E-Cig London costs to attend (I imagine prices will be high) but the cost of attending the Next Generation Nicotine Delivery conference ranges from £600 to an eye-watering £1800. In comparison the E-Cigarette Summit (£350 + VAT) was a snip at the price.
Anyway, I look forward to reading reports of today's event. I'll link to one or two later. Let's hope it wasn't too much of a love in!