Hi everyone!
This writing of mine will be a bit unconventional. Why do we feel the need for this now? Because tomorrow, April 12th, we will be presented with an election again! We can vote about our own future and that of our children, and last but not least, we can even change the perception of e-cigarettes and us as users!
Although we generally do not allow the publication of political content on Vaperina, we must now deal a bit with a segment of politics that affects us, because the stakes are high!
I see in many places, unfortunately sometimes here on Vaperina too, how deep the fear can sink. We are afraid of fines, we are afraid of the NAV (National Tax and Customs Administration), we are afraid of misunderstandings, we are afraid of disapproving glances, and I could go on… Fear generally causes frustration, which in the worst case leads to debate! Our country has become a frustrated and overheated political battlefield! The problem is that they are doing this to us consciously! This frustration and lynching atmosphere is why we generally do not allow political content to be displayed. This complex emotional and psychological process practiced by the government also has a name. It’s called:
Identity Politics
As times change, so do people’s perception, sensitivity, and tolerance levels. Today’s modern politics is no longer about professionalism in the political sense, but about identity politics! This is an extremely slippery slope, because as we see, hear, and unfortunately sometimes experience, it can incite conflict between Hungarians and Hungarians, or vapers and vapers.
We are no exception. E-cigarettes have long ceased to be just a device; they are a lifestyle, a community, and for many, the only method by which they could quit smoking. Yet, they treat us like criminals. In recent years, public discourse has successfully painted the vaper identity as something to be ashamed of, while people queuing at the tobacconists don’t bother anyone. This is no accident. If a group receives sufficiently negative public perception, then restrictive measures against them will not generate social protest. In fact, they might even be popular.
And meanwhile, we sit here, afraid of a package they’ve handed us. This identity politics in practice is not an abstract concept, but a daily reality.
Let it be enough! Now we have a chance to truly make our voices heard!
What might await us after a potential system change
Have you heard about everything that has happened to vapers by the government from 2012 until now? I’ve already written about it in this article: A nagy magyar e-cigi helyzet 2012-től napjainkig
I would only highlight that since 2016, the distance selling of electronic cigarettes and their accessories has been illegal, which means we shouldn’t have been panicking now, because it was already forbidden, we just didn’t acknowledge it, or didn’t feel the limits because the SZTFH (National Media and Infocommunications Authority) and NAV simply had to get into the swing of things. The government entrusted these bodies with a market they had no idea what it consisted of or how big it was. That’s why it took them 4 years to gain experience, which is why the tension and fear among us have been greatest in the last 1.5-2 years. The reason the government cracked down on the e-cigarette market was not necessarily triggered by disposable e-cigarettes.
Sales in tobacconists have naturally decreased as more and more people switched to e-cigarettes. The government and the tobacconist racket missed these revenues. Generally, people with government-adjacent status received concessions, often for 20 years. These people only had to whistle for the government to take action so that they wouldn’t become impoverished. When they didn’t know what to do, suddenly ElfBar and its counterparts exploded onto the scene, and the government saw the solution. If you can’t order from abroad, you go to the tobacconist and spend your money there. If you order from abroad and get caught, you spend your money on fines. Either way, we enrich the tobacconist racket and the state with both extremes. In addition to the disposable products, which were already on the prohibited list, all e-cigarettes, flavors, and base liquids have been added since 2016 – even if the base liquid is nicotine-free, as was seen recently in Germany, where even nicotine-free base liquids were taxed separately.
Could a system change also offer a solution to our problem?
Since the tobacconist racket is a cornerstone of governmental corruption, if a system change were to occur, the next government would most likely dismantle its monopoly. As they believe that everything that unreasonably restricts free trade must be reviewed, there may be an opportunity for market competition again in Hungary, which would mean that e-cigarette items could be ordered again! According to speculation, digital age verification would be used to prevent orders from individuals under 18.
I could summarize the essence of my writing in one sentence:
Our lives, our future, and our beloved hobby are not a toy!
(This is a rational piece of writing! Vaperina will continue to take no stance on any political party.)
In summary, I think in half a year it will start to take shape what changes there are/will be. Until then, I won’t say anything.