# Mark Oates

Founder, We Vape

Mark is the founder of We Vape, the UK’s leading consumer campaign group for vaping and tobacco harm reduction.

An award-nominated advocate and former political aide, he works to defend the rights of vapers, expose rogue traders and failed policies, and promote effective harm reduction legislation.

Mark, who quit smoking through vaping and the use of snus, has been a consistent voice in the smoke-free debate, urging Parliament to protect Britain’s harm reduction model, which has driven down smoking rates in a way comparable to Sweden.

His focus includes promoting safer alternatives such as vapes, nicotine pouches and, where legal, snus.

Mark has lived and worked in China and America, served as a board member of a leading harm reduction charity, and spent years working in the corridors of Westminster.

He is a regular media commentator, appearing on BBC Radio 5 Live, Talk Radio, LBC, STV, and in MailOnline, The Sun, The Express, The Telegraph and CapX.

Profile: https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80

Photo: https://expert-hub-media.pamedia.io/experthub/profile/profile-caiqFa4YP7J8VqyfQovcxi.jpeg?w=1200&dpr=2

## Views

- [Vape use most common in 25-34 age group, figures show](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/382a5feab3d94285)
- [New tax on vaping takes effect to cut appeal to young people and non-smokers](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/559491d66b8c9cef)
- [Vapes ‘proven and viable option for people’ for quitting cigarettes](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/8817d0b30f71ca8f)
- [Proportion of smokers buying cigarettes illegally doubles since 2023 – study](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/dcbe935a548fd07c)
- [Vapes to be put in plain packaging to protect children](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/cf5280069644fbcf)
- [Government urged to crack down on cheap vapes circumventing single-use ban](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/06ad2eca5a17349c)
- [New specialist crime unit to target ‘dodgy high street shops’](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/fb3ad0e547edc297)
- [Almost two thirds of Britons would back smoke-free pub gardens – poll](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/31d53cedb797de22)
- [Half of convenience and vape stores in some areas linked to organised crime](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/0e223e77b3e0cad4)
- [‘Historic moment’ as smoking Bill clears Parliament](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/043e525bc07330c4)
- [Smoking ban for people born after 2008 agreed as Bill clears Parliament](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/495a7903aebe9107)
- [Australian study of e-cigarettes misleading](https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/80/views/044e76a3a0bd3d9d)