I have written about the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) before.
Founded in 2014, GFN took place each year in Warsaw. Then Covid happened and the event was forced online.
This year the physical event will take place in Liverpool which is certainly more convenient.
But will I be going? No.
I have noted several times the absence of confirmed smokers (or their representatives) from the lists of speakers at GFN, not to mention the ‘echo chamber’ nature of the conference.
This year GFN will host - not for the first time - a ‘Consumer Voices Panel’ and I can pretty much guarantee that current confirmed smokers will not be represented on that panel.
The views of the smoker who doesn’t want to quit doesn’t seem to interest them, even though they might learn something that might help their work.
Instead they only want to hear from and engage with ex-smokers, especially those who have quit by switching to e-cigarettes and other reduced risk products, or those who want to quit.
Anyway, Forest will be hosting our own consumers’ panel around the same time. We’re calling it ‘Consumer Voices Uncut’.
Unlike the GFN panel we will make sure that all consumers of nicotine are represented including the largest group of all - current smokers.
PS. Oh, I forgot. One of the keynote speakers at GFN 2021 is Derek Yach, president of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, who wants to ban menthol cigarettes in the United States. (Click here.)
Would it be too much to have a consumer of menthol cigarettes on the Consumer Voices Panel at GFN? On past experience I won’t hold my breath.