Press & media coverage
For over a decade, AVI has been a go-to source for Indian and international outlets covering tobacco harm reduction — quoted, interviewed and bylined in outlets from Deccan Chronicle and Outlook India to trade press like 2Firsts and Filter. Below is that independent coverage, alongside AVI's own public statements, letters and rebuttals.
Media coverage
Independent reporting, interviews and bylined op-eds — not written or issued by AVI.
- — India's Vape Ban: A Case Study in Unintended Consequences
2Firsts, authored by AVI's director · op-ed - — AVI response to editorial in The Hindu
The Hindu · op-ed - — India's vaping ban is failing. Parents, schools, activists unite to corner govt
ThePrint · coverage - — The Unfolding Tragedy of India's Vape Prohibition
Filter (by Alex Norcia) · coverage - — AVI response to Journal Vascular Medicine study coverage
AVI statement (via Brands2Life) · op-ed - — India's Samrat Chowdhery appointed as INNCO President
The Week (PTI wire) · coverage - — India should promote less harmful alternatives to tobacco and smoking
Authored op-ed by Dr Vikas Jain, for Smart Life · op-ed - — How to give up tobacco and look towards harm reduction or prevention
Authored op-ed by Dhaval Gogate, for Pinkvilla · op-ed - — Vaping: The way forward for tobacco harm reduction
Authored op-ed by Dhaval Gogate, for The Indian Express · op-ed - — Tobacco consumption is also a pandemic, and should be countered with realistic, not idealistic, policies
Authored article by Maneesh Kasera, for Only My Health · op-ed - — Ban on public spitting and SLT to control Covid-19 may not be enough
Authored article, for Pinkvilla · op-ed - — India's new e-cigarette ban goes against its history of being a leader in harm reduction for Asia
Authored op-ed by Carrie Wade (R Street Institute) · op-ed - — 'Which Ban Has Worked In India?': Vaping Association Says Ban On E-Cigarettes Will Affect Health Of Vapers
Outlook India · coverage - — Indian government should work on a roadmap for a tobacco-free country
Authored op-ed by Pratik Gupta (Director, AVI) · op-ed - — A way ahead for a smoking-free country
Authored op-ed by Pratik Gupta (Director, AVI) · op-ed - — Why India needs e-cigarettes
Authored op-ed by Samrat Chowdhery · op-ed - — Association of Vapers India opposes ban on e-cigarettes
Deccan Chronicle · coverage - — Vapers in India Are Facing the Fight of Their Lives
Authored op-ed by Samrat Chowdhery, on Medium · op-ed - — The Association of Vapers India chats with Ecigclick
Ecigclick (UK) · interview - — Vapers claim e-cigarette ban not based on any study, cite RTI reply
The Times of India (Bangalore) · coverage
Press releases & statements
AVI's own public statements, quotes and rebuttals, mostly distributed via PR agencies.
- — Association of Vapers India (AVI) welcomes new research paper by eminent tobacco control scientists
AVI press release (via PR Newswire) · press-release - — Indian vaping group co-hosts launch of report on Asia tobacco control measures
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Policy reforms needed to combat India's tobacco crisis: Global report
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Samrat Chowdhery marks one year of the e-cigarette ordinance
AVI/HRPR statement (via Brands2Life) · quote - — Quotes from Indian vapers and experts, one year into the e-cigarette ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · quote - — Ex-smokers say quitting is tough, call for robust cessation ecosystem
HRPR press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Indian experts oppose proposal to ban safer tobacco alternatives in developing nations
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — India's Samrat Chowdhery appointed as INNCO President
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Tobacco companies benefit from India's policy against e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Vaping community celebrates World Vape Day; shows solidarity against vape ban in India
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — E-cigarette users to observe World Vape Day on May 30
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Vape ban after-effect: Vapers' health deteriorating, experiencing behavioral change
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Big coalition urges India's health ministry to discuss rights of vapers in a global treaty
CAPHRA release (via Brands2Life, AVI's PR agency) · press-release - — International travellers in dismay over BCAS' e-cigarette ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Government should set up Tobacco Control Fund in Union Budget 2020
AVI/HRPR statement (via Brands2Life) · quote - — E-cigarette users harassed at airports, plan legal action
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Indore doctor debunks myths on e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI condemns BCAS move to ban e-cigarettes in airports, aircrafts
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — NGO condemns arrest of Russian national for using e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Ban on e-cigarettes will increase cancer, lung disease cases: Doctors
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI appeals to e-cigarette users to urge government to repeal the vape ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — International experts gather in Mumbai for conference on reducing tobacco-related harms
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Vapers write enmasse to oppose vape ban bill
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Consumer body questions health minister's claims on vape ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI calls for nationwide protest against the e-cigarette ban ordinance
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — E-cigarette ordinance regressive, will harm millions of smokers: Consumer body
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Consumers welcome Rajasthan government's decision to study health effects of e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI opposes ban on e-cigarette in Maharashtra
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Consumers demand Karnataka government lift ban on e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI opposes Jharkhand government proposal to ban e-cigarettes
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Banning e-cigarettes could harm public health, AVI warns Haryana Government
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Proposal to ban online vape info under IT Act is anti-people, say consumers and experts
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — TN e-cigarette ban challenged in HC, govt directed to reply in 3 weeks
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Experts, ex-smokers flay Punjab's e-cigarette ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Medical, policy experts say India should allow its 300 million tobacco users access to much safer alternatives
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — HC asks govt to hear e-cigarette traders
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Banning e-cigarettes could harm public health: HRPR
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — AVI's 10-point letter to the Haryana Chief Minister on ENDS policy
AVI letter to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar · press-release - — Health Ministry calls for ban on e-cigarettes is not justified — AVI
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Consumers, industry to contest proposed national vape ban
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release - — Tar is the killer, not nicotine — AVI
AVI press release (via Brands2Life) · press-release