At the height of the pandemic, and even before that, we have seen a rapid rise in people given up smoking due to health concerns. The damage it does to the body is clear from the millions dying from tobacco use each year. Nevertheless, there has been a concern among the public. Could vaping misinformation be a cause for that number to gradually increase again? Especially among young smokers who are curious about both smoking and/or vaping. Despite disapproving eyes on the vaping industry, we can see from organisations like Public Health England that this is a powerful cessation tool to help smokers quit. It can include nicotine to reduce that addiction but also contains less harmful benefits, various studies suggest.
Across the Atlantic, statistics show from 2015 that 32% of the French public smoked cigarettes regularly. However, could that figure be creeping back up in a negative way because of vaping? Still fairly new on the scene in France, there are clear reasons for vaping to exist and to help gradually give up smoking is one of them. For teenagers, the concern is trying to reduce the number of those inhaling cigarette toxins.
Studying Young Smokers and Vapers in France
In 2019, a study took place in Paris by several leading scientists. They investigated vaping and its impact on reducing smoking. Their studies highlight:
Both smoking and vaping is equally popular among teenagers
The results from point one remained the same even if e-cigarettes came before or after smoking.
Through their studies looking at teenagers during their peak years of curiosity, the scientists discovered that a mixture of young people did not want to switch or continue smoking if they also tried vaping.
New Study Finds Similar Results
Fast forward to 2020 and scientists led by Stephane Legleye at the Paris-Sud university reached the same verdict. They realised together how e-cigarettes have more of a positive effect than negative on reducing the consumption of tobacco:
“Overall, experimenting with e-cigarette first (as opposed to tobacco first) was associated with a reduction in the risk of daily tobacco smoking by the age of 17-18. The association varied with age at experimentation, and early age of experimentation actually increased the risk.
National specificities as to the stage in the tobacco/e-cigarette epidemic and their regulation could play a role in the fact that many adolescents experimenting first with e-cigarette never became tobacco experimenters and that the association with daily smoking was negative even among tobacco experimenters.”
This is based on a study looking at 24,111 teenagers between the ages of 17 and 18.5. Looking at the use of both smoking and vaping, the issue is wide ranging:
Could vaping lead to a transition back to smoking?
Is the way businesses market vaping an issue and enticing teenagers?
More long-term research and results is still the challenge that needs addressing.
Vapers looking for the best mod can spend hours comparing different devices before finding the right fit. Typically mods are designed for more advanced vapers but still considered by all levels. With mods, you can adjust the settings till it hits the spot. When a mod ticks multiple boxes in terms of size, coil variation and flavour, that’s a winning formula. One device we’re seriously impressed with that increases in popularity daily is the Innokin Kroma-R iTaste Zlide Kit.
Not only that, but the Zlide also helps to improve the flavour of your vape. Another factor is the practical design, reducing the chances of spilling after adding e-liquids. When you consider the Kroma-R iTaste works with all Zenith tanks too (22mm and 24mm), this creates multiple options.
iTaste Kroma-R Performance and Design
This is a seriously stylish piece of equipment to enjoy vaping while out and about or at home. The brushed finish on the sides stands out, while the rubber texture on the back of the device is nice for gripping. On the front, the OLED display is easy to use and clear. Also, because of the bold range of colours available, it gets our seal of approval with options such as bronze and gunmetal.
How to Use Step by Step
A simple process to turn on and use, like with all Innokin Kroma models:
Click the fire button three times to turn on.
You can lock the display by clicking the fire button together with the down arrow.
To enter the menu, press the up and down arrows simultaneously.
Check your puff counter by holding the up and fire buttons together.
Technical Details
This is a fantastic mod with lots of nice little technical extras to tinker with your MTL vape. First of all, safety first. We love the way Innokin built this model to protect the user. Not just a child lock feature which you never know when it will come in handy but an easy to fill slide system too. Because the wattage ranges from 6W all the way up to 80W, you can adjust based on preference. For MTL vaping, best to stick at a lower level. Voltage can change in increments up to 7.5 maximum too.
For peace of mind, you get a 2A micro-USB cable in the kit and the Kroma-R iTaste Zlide features an advanced custom curve feature too. Best of all, it’s response time is rapid at 0.003 seconds with each press of the fire button. Plus, the single 18650 battery is internally built and makes very little noise upon movement of the device.
You can add a variety of coils, but for MTL vaping we recommend the Z-Plex 3D coils for an optimised flavour draw. You can find out more about coils here. The only downside with the Innokin Kroma-R iTaste Zlide is no temperature control. However, not every vaper likes or requires this setting.
Even a seasoned vaper seeking a different mod option can’t go wrong with the Kroma-R iTaste. That’s especially the case if they liked the Kroma-A iTaste previously. Also, it could work as a DTL vape based on the adjustable airflow option but might not get the same result. It’s down to personal choice and how much you value the flavour production.
Any misleading bad press about vaping creates confusion and fear. As it spreads like wildfire, the damage is difficult to repair. Is vaping really bad for you – and worse than smoking? Plenty of research backs up its use as a better cessation technique to quit cigarettes. Changing nicotine quantity, alongside natural ingredients like PG and VG is useful if you wish to quit cigarettes. However, if vaping misinformation continues, everything positive from vaping will take a backwards step.
Recent statistics tell us a lot of useful information about the positive effect vaping has on former smokers. As vapers in the UK increase, roughly half of the total nationwide smokers, the key reasons for this change include:
Wanting to Cut Down on Cigarettes
Saving Money
Aid to Stop Smoking
While this is good to see, misleading and sometimes false claims about vaping from a lack of research is alarming.
Who Defends Against Vaping Misinformation?
Fighting in the vaping corner, several leading organisations stake its worth instead of smoking. For instance, one of the notable researchers supporting vaping is Public Health England (PHE). Informing the public with annual in-depth case studies and the latest news from PHE medical professionals prove that. One of PHE’s key findings, supported by the NHS, highlights how important switching from smoking to vaping can be. However, as PHE have discovered, numbers continue to fall due to misperception:
“The proportion who thought vaping was less harmful than cigarettes declined from 45% in 2014 to 34% in 2019. These misperceptions are particularly common among smokers who do not vape.”
Organisations like Cancer Research UK and the Action on Smoking Health (ASH) side with PHE. This adds to evidence that vaping is a better alternative. However, doubts remain. None more so than after the E-cigarette, or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) outbreak. This led to a nationwide ban of certain e-cigarette products and ramp-up of laws in the USA.
Understanding the ‘False Fears’
Once the EVALI news took centre stage in the US, it was only going in one direction. It’s common knowledge that smoking causes multiple illnesses with long-term effects. And when cigarettes have thousands of toxic chemicals, perhaps the focus is in the wrong area. Even with all these studies, many still see vaping as more dangerous. Theories such as the ‘popcorn lung theory’ continue to mislead.
Organisations like PHE highlight these ‘false fears’. What misinformation does is reduce the chances of ex-smokers switching to vaping, because of confusing claims in the media. ASH claims it’s due to a ‘misguided belief that vaping is equally as harmful as smoking’.
What Needs to Change
First of all, the idea that vaping affects you more, or even equal to smoking requires a rethink. For example, more case studies like this one with the NHS would help. The benefits of switching remain for vapers, even in the middle of a Coronavirus pandemic. Research suggests it works better than traditional replacement methods such as nicotine patches.
Meanwhile, recent numbers show more than 400,000 gave up vaping in the UK between 2019 and 2020. This will only increase depending on what information the public will see. Remember vaping only existed since its creation in 2003 by Chinese creator Hon Lik. That means less research or proof that it’s worse than cigarettes, only sceptics. Nevertheless, those considering vaping as an alternative remain cautious. And with the end of PHE, that’s only going to get worse in the UK. So the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) must carry on the good work of PHE. As research improves, vaping misinformation should reduce. If you don’t want to cause damage to those around you, vaping is a major improvement on second-hand smoke. It’s important to find a recognised brand of e-liquid approved by trade regulations. This will ensure that what you’re vaping is certified and contains only the ingredients stated.
Debate in office about end of Public Health England (PHE) switch to National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP)
In 2020, the UK is in the middle of a crisis. Because of the Coronavirus, the UK and beyond face great difficulties – not just socially but also economically. As we see businesses close, people losing jobs and organisations in pieces, one we did not expect to see scrapped is Public Health England, also known as PHE. The Public Health England switch is a blow to multiple sectors and organisations, including the vaping industry.
The impact of Covid-19 is widespread; ending lives, disrupting businesses and our livelihood. Health is a huge concern and the government is attempting to tackle it by any means necessary.
Since 2013, Public Health England has acted as an independent executive agency, on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. In the past, the NHS lacked organisation, with structural changes needed for decades. What was the result? A new direction for public health under the guidance of David Cameron as new PM in 2010 – with a different strategy. As of 2020, using a budget of just under £300 million annually, PHE employs over 5,000 members of staff including medical researchers and scientists. Their aim includes ‘protecting and improving the nation’s health and wellbeing’, as well as ‘reducing health inequalities’.
Through in-depth research and analysis, they have tackled major issues through key goals, including:
Protecting the nation from public health hazards.
Researching, collecting and analysing data to improve our understanding of public health challenges.
Making the public healthier and reducing differences between the health of different groups by promoting healthier lifestyles, advising government and supporting action by local government, the NHS and the public.
Preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.
Improving the health of the whole population by sharing their information and expertise.
In eight centres across the UK, work is carried out not just in England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as internationally. The initial idea was to assist more than 70 health organisations, bringing them together under one roof. In 2020, a particular emphasis on PHE focused on the Coronavirus pandemic, producing multiple reports and research that could assist the NHS.
Not just limited to Covid-19, they also report on health concerns such as cancer, immunisation from diseases, general health focused-projects and since 2015 a progressive study of the vaping industry. This included yearly reports on key topics for Vaping in the UK. Tasked by the government’s Tobacco Control Plan until 2022, a different plan is now in place.
Understanding the Public Health England Switch
Although the initial plan was to ‘devolve health and wellbeing out of central government’, PHE has been stopped in its tracks before expected. According to major figures in Westminster such as Health and Care Secretary Matt Hancock, the major reasons for its dissolution was to help the UK tackle the Coronavirus pandemic:
“To give ourselves the best chance of beating this virus once and for all – and of spotting and being ready to respond to other health threats, now and in the future, we are creating a brand new organisation to provide a new approach to public health protection and resilience.” – Matt Hancock
The expertise of PHE is still likely. However, the newly created organisation called the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) works on a different model. Merging with the NHS Track and Trace system, it’s more in line with the USA’s ‘Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’. The main aim of the newly created NIHP, which will officially start in Spring 2021, is to stop illnesses and pandemics like Covid-19 in their tracks, with a greater plan in place earlier.
Speaking after the NIHP announcement, Baroness Dido Harding – head of NHS Track and Trace, stated:
“The changes announced today are designed to strengthen our response, and to radically ramp up our fight against this disease, whilst also protecting PHE’s essential work beyond COVID that is so important for the nation’s health.”
Only time will tell whether this is considered the right call. Clearly, it’s angered many key organisations and medical professionals. They believe it is the wrong decision at a critical point in the UK’s future, with over 70 organisations writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the consequences of the PHE dissolution. This could damage key research into more widespread health issues such as mental health, obesity and smoking, published in BMJ by the 70 organisations combined efforts.
What Have They Done to Promote Vaping Over Smoking
One industry that could feel the impact of the decision to shut down PHE is vaping. Still relatively new with its creation in 2003, the timeline of vaping and its differences from smoking is a long journey of discovery, and yet still receives scepticism to the present day. To thrive and help smokers quit – which is its key message – vaping requires organisations like PHE to fight in their corner to have a future.
In the past PHE needed to step in, particularly following the focus on lung issues in the USA, dubbed ‘e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury’ (EVALI), allegedly leading to deaths because of vaping.
PHE quickly dispelled this issue, as well as tackling other key subjects in the debate against vaping vs smoking, with a comprehensive study. With organisations such as UKVIVA backing their claims, it’s no wonder so many leading organisations are against government plans to dissolve PHE, replacing it with NIHP.
As stated earlier, the yearly reports from PHE to update on the latest research was a perfect tonic to rebalance the debate against smoking and promote improving health. Alongside other key health organisations that continue to shine a light on the damage of smoking and the potential benefits of switching to vaping, PHE was making significant strides.
How Will PHE’s Collapse Affect the Vaping Industry
First of all, it’s a huge loss to the general public. With over 7 million smokers in the UK, that figure has significantly dipped over the past decade, thanks to the work and key messages of organisations like PHE. Moving forward, it could be much harder to raise awareness of the damage smoking does without scientific research and a greater focus on health.
Annual studies of how vaping is a better alternative regularly feature in PHE’s yearly reports, with the most recently published in March 2020 covering topics like pregnancy and mental health for Vapers. In the past, they have also looked at important up to date topics including:
If this kind of research, analysis and opinion stops surrounding vaping, many could turn back to smoking or find it harder to quit in the first place.
Can the Vaping Industry Progress Following PHE’s Good Work
To carry on the good work of PHE while also correcting their errors as seen by Westminster, the government faces a monumental task. Because many believe chief politicians like Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock are using the Public Health England switch as the Coronavirus ‘scapegoat’, the next stage of dealing with Covid-19 and moving towards NIHP is vital. Whether we see NIHP pick up where PHE left off with continued research into smoking, obesity and general health is still debated.
Plus, as we have seen from other studies, thanks to the work of ASH among others, highlighting the important facts behind vaping is the next step for removing stigma.
The vaping community continues to be attacked by false science and scaremongering
Introduction
The internet offers anyone and everyone a platform to express their opinions and in this overcrowded “news” landscape, grabbing the attention with a catchy and controversial title seems to be everyone’s favourite strategy. Many websites make their money simply by pushing completely unsubstantiated articles and recently vaping, e-cigarettes, and the vaping community have all been under attack by a slew of media outlets and websites cashing in on this trend.
Vaper or not, I am sure you’ve noticed the horror stories and sensationalised misinformation surrounding vaping that includes dangerous exploding vape batteries, popcorn lung, formaldehyde in e-liquids, vaping spreading COVID-19 and even people claiming that vaporizers killed their family members.
Catchy headlines with little to no substance
These stories can sometimes make out that e-cigarettes are more dangerous than smoking which is totally and utterly false; anyone that pushes this narrative is causing direct harm as the controversy can make people hesitant to use e-cigarettes as a tool to quit smoking. The Journal of the American Heart Association published a study claiming that “E-cigarette use is an independent risk factor for having had a myocardial infarction” (ie. e-cigarettes increase the risk factor for having a heart attack). The article used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health however a close look at this data clearly shows that the heart attacks suffered by the subjects in the study were heart attacks suffered up to a decade before they began to vape. How anyone could knowingly publish this misinformation is beyond me but sadly the damage was done as most people didn’t look into the data, but simply read the title and took it on face value.
Vaping causing ill health or worse
There are also a lot of articles citing instances of deaths due to vaping, however many of these deaths are not down to the vaporizers or inherent harm that all vapes cause, but instead are caused by the e-liquids people are using. One article circulated recently stated that “Vaping nearly killed me” and talks about a British teenager who suffered from lung inflammation, this was blamed on vaping however it was actually an allergy to components of the e-liquid. Saying that vaping is bad because one person had an allergic reaction is like saying eating nuts are bad because one person had an allergic reaction to peanuts.
Perhaps the most damaging instance of sensationalised misinformation is the tragic wave of deaths that occurred in 2019. These deaths made headline news and rightly so, however rather than warning people to the dangers of counterfeit THC and non THC e-liquid, the media jumped on this as an opportunity to tear down vaping as a whole. The New York Times, Washington Post, The Sun and many more all published these articles and although some of these publications corrected themselves and clarified that it was counterfeit/black market THC pods that were causing these deaths, the damage had been done and many people continue to believe that vaping was the cause.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention full and detailed report on this matter now clearly demonstrates that by far the vast majority of any deaths or illness was associated with THC, not regular vaping.
“Vaping is a gateway to smoking and drugs” whirrs around the internet like a broken record, and this is simply false, yes non-smokers take up vaping, but generally they stick to vaping and don’t start to smoke. In fact, you can see this as smoking rates among both adults and children in the UK are at record lows which is a testament to the effectiveness of vaporizers as a means of quitting smoking.
Going forward
Although I have gone through a few of the most popular instances of misinformation that surrounds vaping there are countless more examples, and rather than going through each and every one, I think it’s important that we the consumers take a more proactive approach to filtering information. If someone makes a bold or damaging claim, we should approach it with both scepticism and fairness, read beyond the headline, look into their sources, and consider where we are getting your information from as many outlets crank out a million articles a day, hoping that one will stick. We all know Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet” and I cannot stress the importance of asking questions and doing your own research on anything relating to science or health. Through all the controversy surrounding vaping, Public Health England has had a firm stance that e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, so listen to the credible authorities and don’t take everything in the media at face value.
With vape stores lining high streets and online vape stores surging in popularity, it comes as no great surprise to learn of vaping first billionaires. With an unending choice of electronic cigarettes, vape pens, e-liquid and accessories for vapers to choose from, we look at how popular vaping has become as well as why it’s become a priority to buy your vape products from a trusted vendor.
China’s Vaping Billionaires
There’s no escaping vaping. From petrol stations to dedicated online vape stores, vaping products are now a familiar sight. It’s almost hard to imagine a time when vaping didn’t exist, but alas vaping only became a readily available product no-less than 20 years ago. And like the vape products themselves, their growth in popularity has been slowly heating up ever since.
The recent announcement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that saw shares in Smoore International Holdings more than double their value meant the company had a total valuation of almost $23 billion. Yielding not one but two billionaires in an instant, CEO Chen Zhiping now holds a stake in the company worth a whopping $8 billion. At the same time, executive director Xiong Shaoming saw his stake increase to $1.2 billion.
Founded in 2009, the Chinese vaping company Smoore International have made their fortune by supplying vaping devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens, as well as the devices’ components. With international customers that include British American Tobacco, American Tobacco, NJOY, RELIX, Reynolds and Japan Tobacco, Smoore’s revenue has been exponentially increasing year on year.
Vaping in Numbers
Here in the UK, there are an estimated 3.2 million vapers, and around the world, vaping popularity continues to increase. The research group Euromonitor found that there has been a massive increase in the numbers of people vaping in the space of seven years. From around seven million vapers in 2011, in 2018 there were an estimated 41 million people around the world who were vaping as a way to stay smoke-free. The same study predicts that this upward trajectory will continue resulting in an estimated 55 million vapers by 2021. Economically, the popularity in vaping means that the industry had grown from £5.5 billion in 2014 to £15.5 billion in 2019.
The Growing Popularity of The Online Vape Stores
Online vape stores have become a great way to shop for all your vape essentials in one place. With the ability to save money bulk buying e-liquid or refillable tanks, online vape stores have a range of benefits designed to make your life easier.
Visiting a vape shop can be great if you’re looking to have a conversation with a real person. However, it’s always with bearing in mind that sales reps may be incentivised to sell certain products or brands to you. This could lead you to overspend on buying products that you didn’t want or need, which may provide you with the experience you need to stay smoke-free.
Online vape stores provide a fuss-free way to view products in easily identifiable categories. From e-liquid’s to vaping hardware, vape stores will often display real-time reviews of products made by fellow vapers, which means you can get impartial advice from those who might be in a similar position to yourself. With a massive range of devices aimed at enabling vapers to customise their vaping experience, online vape stores will typically have online assistants that can help answer any burning questions you have.
While the accessibility and fuss-free nature of an online vape store are undoubtedly beneficial, you will find that many online stores will also offer reward schemes. With coupon codes rewarded for your custom, loyalty schemes are well worth looking out for as they are a great way to save money on some of your favourite vape products.
One of the best things about online vape stores is that you don’t need to leave your house in order to get your hands on some of the best vaping equipment. Online vape stores like V2 Cigs and Pure E-Liquids offer a next day delivery service as long as you order before 4 pm, Monday to Thursday.
Is it Safe to Buy Vapes Online?
Buying your vape essentials from an online vape store is probably one of the safest ways to purchase vaping products. With the bonus of a hassle-free shopping experience, whether you’re looking for a new device or want to bulk buy your e-liquid and save money if you’re going to purchase vapes online, there are just a couple of things to be wary of.
Due to the popularity of vaping, together with the fact that the industry has just produced its first billionaires, it’s safe to say that not every vaping vendor may be in it for the right reasons. Sure, everybody needs to make some money to have a profitable and functional business. However, there will be the inevitable vape cowboy’s looking to make a quick buck to two.
Do some research and shop with online vape stores that are well-reviewed and well stocked with reputable brands that can be trusted. Ideally, online vape stores will proudly promote their allegiance to a vaping alliance such as UKVIA (UK Vaping Industry Association). Alternatively, they will make known that their products are TPD (Tobacco Product Directive) compliant and registered with the MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).
What Is The Best Online Vape Store
Similarly to the early days of high street vape stores, online vape stores are becoming more and more popular with new ones appearing on a nearly day-by-day basis. But how can you tell who’s trustworthy from those that aren’t?
While there are several reputable online vape stores, there are two stores that really tick the boxes when it comes to quality products and trusted brands. V2 Cigs and Pure E Liquids both sell products that are TPD compliant and appear on the MHRA register. With health at the heart of everything they do, they believe that vaping is a key tool for helping smokers quit smoking to lead smoke-free lives. While they might not sell the cheapest products, both V2 Cigs and Pure E Liquids have a distinct focus on e-liquids that only contain the best ingredients and vaporisers that are well built with the best components. Selling brands such as Vapour2, Innokin, SMOK, XEO, VSAVI and RipStick, whether you’re new to vaping or are a veteran vaper, if you’re looking for the best vape products and the best vape experience, these online stores will provide you with all you need.
Quit Smoking and Vape to Stay Smoke-Free
Back in the 70’s the number of smokers in the UK was almost half the population. Ever since, the nation, and indeed the world, have become ever more aware of the dangers that cigarettes present to our health.
Responsible for 80,000 deaths every year, smoking-related diseases account for 16% of all adult fatalities in the UK and is the single most significant preventable cause of death. With one in two smokers’ deaths likely to be as a result of smoking cigarettes, quitting smoking can immediately lessen the risk of contracting several debilitating diseases.
While quitting smoking is known to be a notoriously tricky task, vaping has proved to be a useful tool for helping smokers stay smoke-free and quit smoking successfully. In 2015, Public Health England (PHE) published groundbreaking scientific evidence that found e-cigarettes to be up to 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes and that vaping also had the potential for smokers to quit smoking. This evidence was more recently backed up by research conducted by Queen Mary University London that found vaping to be twice as effective as traditional nicotine replacement aids such as sprays, patchers and gums.
If you smoke or know someone that smokes, quitting with the help of vaping might be one of the best things, you can do. With a simple starter vape kit such as Vapour2’s e-liquid starter kit, vaping couldn’t be easier. An excellent device for newbies looking for a gentle introduction to vaping, all you need to do is choose a flavour that you think you might like, choose a strength of nicotine that corresponds with your current nicotine habit and away you go. Ordering from online vape stores like V2 Cigs or Pure E-Liquids means that you’ll be buying from a reputable vape vendor who sells regulated and safe vape products.
Whether you’re looking for premium flavoured e-liquids or are searching for the latest and greatest vape pods or vape mods, online vape stores will enable you to discover some of the best products created to provide you with some of the very best vape experiences.
If you smoke regular cigarettes, then you’ll typically know how long your pack will last. While you may feel comfortable with the habit of smoking and the familiarity of knowing how long a deck of 20 might last you, the chances are that neither your body nor your wallet will be in any rush to say thank you anytime soon. Deciding to stop smoking can seem like a tough call to make; however, if you choose e-cigarettes as your chosen smoking cessation aid, then your route to quit smoking will feel relatively easy in comparison. Let’s take a look at how many ml of e-liquid will equate to your regular cigarettes, and how in the long run, you could be saving yourself a stack of cash.
Moving From Tobacco Products and Regular Cigarettes to Vaping
Where you may have gone to your local tobacconist in the past and procured yourself a pack of regular cigarettes and lighter, the thought of vaping might at first seem like a daunting prospect. While at first glance, the vaping landscape might seem vast and far-ranging, when you explore a little further, you’ll soon realise that vaping as a way to curb nicotine cravings is just as easy.
There are an estimated 3.6 million vapers in the UK, who in the majority have chosen to vape as a way to stop smoking. Quickly becoming the go-to smoking cessation tool for smokers who want to be smoke-free, Public Health England says that e-cigarettes are up to 95% less harmful than regular cigarettes and that vaping has the potential to help smokers quit smoking.
If you were one of the millions who smoked menthol cigarettes before the recent ban, then vaping may be the answer to your minty fresh menthol dreams. By using a standard e-cig battery such as the one included with the Vapour2 Vaping Kit, you’ll be able to enjoy a menthol flavoured e-liquid while also giving up smoking at the same time.
In essence, all you need to get going will be a rechargeable e-cigarette, e-liquid tank and a bottle of e-liquid. Easy. But things might get tricky when you discover the choice that lies in wait.
If the idea of refilling your own e-liquid tank seems like a step too far, investing in a standard e-cigarette battery and disposable cartridges will be an easy first step to take. Containing 2ml of e-liquid, simply screw your cartridge onto the end of the battery and vape away.
Why Choosing The Right Concentration of Nicotine is Crucial
Vaping the correct dosage of nicotine suitable for your body is one of the most critical aspects of your experience. And getting it wrong may result in you vaping too much or in the worst case, not feeling too great about the whole thing. Your first experience of vaping will play a pivotal role in your ability to stop smoking and stay smoke-free, but should you not be satisfied with your experience, the likelihood of you returning to those pesky regular cigarettes will only increase.
With a multitude of flavours to explore, what you want to pay particular attention to is the nicotine concentration found in your e-liquid. Available in concentrations of 1.8%, 1.2%, 0.6% and 0%, depending on which strength will be suitable for you, over time you’ll be able to reduce the amount of nicotine your body needs and eventually become both smoke-free and nicotine-free too!
As you might expect the 1.8% nicotine e-liquids would typically be reserved for heavy smokers or strong tobacco smokers. 1.2% is the happy medium, while 0.6% is excellent for those used to light cigarettes.
How Many Regular Cigarettes Are in a 10ml E-juice?
The big question on everyone’s mind is how many ml of e-liquid will equate to a pack of regular cigarettes? An average rule of thumb is to compare 1ml of e-liquid to a pack of 10 cigarettes. With the legal e-liquid tank limit set at 2ml, a full tank of e-liquid is going to be roughly 20 cigarettes, which means that buying a 10ml bottle of e-liquid will last the same as a staggering 100 cigarettes would cost. With a bottle of e-liquid typically costing around £5.99, you’ll be saving yourself a pretty penny.
How Vaping E-Liquid Can Help You to Stop Smoking
When you smoke, the process of getting your nicotine is pretty straightforward, albeit extremely harmful. Tobacco smoke produced by the combustion of tobacco leaves and additives, account for 16% of all adult fatalities in the UK and is the single most significant preventable cause of death. Harming both the health of smokers and non-smokers inhaling second-hand smoke, tobacco products and regular cigarettes put lives in jeopardy and can be easily remedied.
By switching from tobacco products and regular cigarettes to rechargeable e-cigarettes, you’ll not only reduce the harm you pose to yourself every time you light up but those around you too. With a little will power along with the willingness to try a new smoking cessation method like vaping, you’ll soon find yourself enjoying the benefits of a smoke-free future and thanking us later.
Saving Money With Rechargeable E-Cigarettes
Did you know that the average smokers save over £800 a year when they switch to vaping? Cool huh? That means you could treat yourself to a swanky meal once a month, or put it towards the summer holiday of your dreams.
Are you a heavy smoker still smoking? Have you tried an e-cig yet? We all know that taking the time to quit smoking can be tough. Alas, you may have attempted the feat several times with limited success before becoming flustered and frustrated before eventually lighting up as a last resort to save your sanity. Whichever stop-smoking route you may have chosen to do down in the past, we may have the smoke-free solution that you’ve been looking for. Looking for the best e-cig suitable for heavy smokers? You’ve come to the right place!
Vaping E-Cigs vs Smoking Cigarettes
Vaping has helped millions of smokers around the world successfully quit smoking. But let’s be clear, vaping is not smoking. Deemed to be up to 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes, vaping dies its best to simulate the experience of smoking, minus the toxic smoke, tar, and tens of thousands of carcinogenic materials that you inhale every time you light up.
While it would be utterly divine to have a simple ‘one-size fits all’ e-cig style solution to help soles quit, the reality is that we all have different habits and different ways of doing things. If you were to offer a light cigarette to a heavy smoker, the chances are that they’ll be left feeling the need for more. The same rule applies to e-cigs. While e-liquid is available in different nicotine strengths, it is often the power that your device is capable of which will truly satisfy your cravings and leave you feeling content.
It may seem odd that you can choose to use a high concentration nicotine e-liquid in an e-cig and not feel satisfied, however, the power of your device and the amount of vapour produced will often dictate how effective the nicotine absorption is, and how satisfied you will be.
If you’re a heavy smoker, used to smoking strong cigarettes or rolling tobacco, then the chance is that a basic e-cigarette may leave you vaping more often than you would actually smoke. So what’s a heavy smoker supposed to do? Increase your power. Fortunately, there is a wealth of devices that cater to such a demand, known by the name of vape mods. While they may be used by hobbyists who enjoy the art of cloud chasing, vape mods or sub-ohm mods, also offer heavy smokers the chance to stay satisfied and stay smoke-free. Please take a peek at our pick of the best vape mods for heavy smokers.
Reliable, easy to use and often imitated, the SMOK ALIEN is a highly regarded device among the vaping community. With an incredible 220W output powered by dual 18650 batteries, this compact device is robust as it is ready to help you quit smoking. With plenty of options to personalise your vaping experience, the likelihood is that you’ll find a setting suitable for heavy smokers needs. Plenty of vapour and plenty of flavour equals one satisfied vaper.
Innokin’s Proton Vape Mod was renowned for its capabilities and ability to satisfy even the most ardent of smokers. But their upgraded edition featuring the Mini Ajax tank goes that one step further to provide papers with the kind of power and technology that’ll create huge vapour clouds and flavourful taste to match. A superior device to many of its counterparts, the Innokin Proton is fitted with a whopping 3400mAh built-in battery, capable of 120w max output. Suitable for beginners and experienced capers alike, if you’re a heavy smoker, then this might be the device to help you finally quit smoking.
A particularly sophisticated vape mod, the Aegis X by GeekVape, this is a vape mod for those who experience the rough and tumble of life from time to time. Waterproof, rustproof and shockproof, the Aegis X is durable, to say the least. Powered by dual 18650 batteries, expect a maximum power output of 200 watts, that’ll provide you with a speedy firing time in order to curb those pesky nicotine cravings in an instant.
Love vaping? Keen on saving some money? Whether you’re bonkers about bargain hunting or are keen on reducing your monthly outgoings, we’re here to let you know about the plethora of savvy saving tips that you could be taking advantage of. Let’s take a look at the best ways to vape and save money at the same time.
Affordable Devices
Spent a lot of money on your last vaporizer? Look away now. We’ve found some of the best devices that won’t require you parting with all that hard-earned cash of yours upon purchase. While you might be forgiven for thinking that the more you spend on your device, the better it will be, the reality is that there lies a multitude of affordable options at your disposal. Depending on whether you prefer the simplicity of an e-cigarette, the durability of a vape pen, the functionality of a vape mod, or the power of a vape pod, check out our top tips and best buys below.
E-Cigarette: Vapour2 Starter Pack / £29.23Ideally suited to those new to vaping, Vapour2’s Starter Pack is one of the best bits of kit on the market and one of the most affordable. Costing just under £30, the starter pack comes complete with everything you need to start vaping straight away, including; a standard e-cigarette battery, express USB charger, and up to 4 flavoured prefilled e-liquid cartridges. With each cartridge providing the equivalent of a pack of 20 cigarettes, you’ve already saved yourself money.
Vape Pen: Vaporesso Orca Solo / £19.95Featuring an upgraded 1200mAh battery and new 0.6-ohm mesh coil, Vaporesso’s Orca Solo is one of the most affordable vape pens that you’re likely to find. Boasting consistent flavours and incredible vapour production, if you’re after a powerful vape pen, then this is the one for you.
Vape Mod: Vaptio Cosmo Vape Kit / £29.97Vape Mods can vary hugely on price depending on the brand, functionality and range of user options, but you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to enjoy the satisfaction of sub-ohm vaping. Smart, compact, and cool; the Cosmo features multiple power options and adjustable airflow that’ll allow you to make the tweaks you need to tailor your vape to the way you like it. Powered by a 1500mAh built-in battery, you’ll be able to enjoy a maximum output of 30W, as well as switching from DL to MTL with ease depending on whether you want to practice some cloud chasing or simply sit back and revel in a truly satisfying vape.
Vape Pod: RipTide RipStick Starter Kit / £19.99The latest type of vaporizer to be manufactured, vape pods provide the power of a vape pen housed within a small and discreetly sized device. Similar to other types of vaporizers, there are already many options for you to choose from; however, one device that has particularly caught our attention is the RipStick. This starter kit comes complete with prefilled pods that means you just click your pod into position before vaping away. Fuss-free and easy to use, the RipStick uses Riptide pods that contain a technologically advanced synthetic nicotine, that is both smooth and satisfying.
Bulk Buy Your E-Liquid
Ever wondered why you buy your bottles of e-liquid one by one? Whether it’s an inherited habit from your days of buying a single pack of cigarettes or a decision based on what you might perceive to be the low cost, bulk buying e-liquid can save you some serious money. As well as reducing your spend, bulk buying will lessen the time you spend on buying e-liquid and additionally reduce unwanted packaging, which means mother earth benefits as much as you do. The concept is simple; the more e-liquid you buy, the more money you save.
If you vape with a standard e-cigarette and use prefilled e-liquid cartridges, Vapour2’s Classic cartridge bundles can go a long way to saving you a pretty penny. Where a pack of 5 cartridges will cost £10.75 at the cost of just over £2 a cartridge, opting for a pack of 100 cartridges will reduce your overall spend by a whopping 25%. Costing £159.95, you’ll be spending roughly £1.60 on each cartridge which is quite the saving and quite possibly all the e-liquid you need to help you successfully quit smoking.
Sign Up to Reward Schemes and Vape Happy
Yes, we’ve already saved you a stack of cash, but we do have one last tip for you. We’re nice like that. Should you be keen on saving that little bit more on your vaping purchases, signing up to your favourite brand or website’s loyalty scheme will come with a range of benefits. Whether you’re referring friends or purchasing your vaping products, companies such as Vapour2, VSAVIand Pure E-Liquidswill actually reward your loyalty to their brand with points that can be exchanged for money off coupons.
Now that you know all there is to know about the best ways to vape and save money, why not try and see how much money can you save on vaping?
Smokers of menthol cigarettes are set for a significant change this year as the government introduces new smoking laws that are due to come into effect this coming May.
Let’s take a look at why menthol cigarettes are being banned, as well as how you can overcome the challenge that it may bring to your daily routine.
Why Are Menthol Cigarettes Being Banned?
If you hadn’t already heard, 2020 started with the news that the government intends to ban menthol cigarettes. As well as a range of other tobacco products such as menthol rolling tobacco and ‘skinny’ cigarettes, the new laws are due to be imposed by 20th May this year.
You may remember that back in 2017, smaller packs of rolling tobacco and packs of 10 cigarettes were outlawed. This latest move is a continuation of a four-year phasing out period in line with the new EU Tobacco Product Directive (TPD) laws, which became applicable to EU countries in 2016. While Britain may be negotiating their exit from the European Union, tobacco laws in the UK still fall under the guidance of the TPD.
One aspect of the phasing out period is focused on deterring young people from smoking. While research shows that two-thirds of smokers start smoking before the age of 18, menthol cigarettes, in particular, are known to relax the airways, and their intense flavour acts to mask the harshness of the smoke.
What’s the Alternative to Menthol Cigarettes?
We all know that smoking is seriously bad for our health, which is why it might not be such bad news that the menthol ban is coming into effect. While you might decide to quit smoking and go cold turkey in protest of your favoured flavoured cigarettes no longer being available to you, fortunately, there is an alternative.
Firstly, avoid at all costs, going down the route of cold turkey. Depending on how much you smoke and how much nicotine is in your system, you will more than likely experience some of the infamous withdrawal symptoms that so many dread. From feeling irritable, to cold sweats and feeling anxious and experiencing headaches – the mental and physical battle can be considerable.
Smokers are Turning to Vaping
To allay any such withdrawal, joining the estimated 3.2 million vapers in the UK is a path more and more smokers are taking in order to live a smoke-free life. Public Health England cites e-cigarettes and vaping to be up to 95% less harmful than smoking, which means you’ll be able to reduce your nicotine levels and eventually remove both smoke and nicotine from your body, slowly, safely and free from the typical withdrawal symptoms.
To make a smooth transition from smoker to vaper, the key to your success will be down to the kind of equipment you use. Now, there are literally hundreds of e-cigarette and vaping brands to choose from, but what we’re looking for is something that simulates the icy blast that a menthol cigarette provides you.
While there might be a range of menthol flavoured e-liquids and e-cigarettes to choose from, one particular device that is proving popular amongst ex-smokers is the RipStick vape device by RipTide, and it’s accompanying flavoured nicotine RipStick Pods. Available in 6 different flavours, choosing the mint flavoured pod will give you the menthol kick that you might soon be missing from your life.
What Makes RipTide and the RipStick Different?
E-cigarettes have proved to be an effective form of cessation for smokers seeking to be smoke-free. Yet, a common criticism is that the experience often lacks the throat hit that is associated with smoking. What sets the RipStick and RipStick Pods apart from its competitors is the technology they use to create the perfect vaping experience.
Where conventional e-liquid products will use pharmaceutical grade nicotine that has been derived from tobacco, RipStick Pods contain NicTech – which is the trademarked name given to tobacco free nicotine created in a lab rather than extracted from the tobacco plant itself. This means that by using RipStick Pods, you’ll be vaping a tobacco-free e-liquid that is even purer than the pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, which contains impurities that can’t be filtered. Since the nicotine is purer, you’ll find that the need to vape isn’t as frequent due to your nicotine cravings being satisfied more quickly.
If you smoke, you’ll know that the smell of tobacco isn’t a hugely appealing one. NicTech is tobacco free nicotine and therefore doesn’t have the same impurities as conventional e-liquids, achieving incredible flavours is a much easier process. Nicotine derived from tobacco requires masking of the tobacco odour before flavours can be formulated. However, RipStick Pods containing this NicTech don’t, which means you’ll experience a more flavourful vape than you’ve experienced before.
Some vapers opt to use nicotine salts in order to experience the throat hit they desire; however, this is achieved by adding benzoic acid to the nicsalts. The RipStick Pods don’t contain any benzoic acid, which means you’ll get the nicotine hit you crave delivered smoothly for your satisfaction. Put simply, if you’re looking for a smooth-tasting vape, then the range of RipTide products will be just what you need in your life right now.
We hope our recommendation is of assistance in this time of change as you look to transition away from menthol cigarettes to vaping. Feel free to contact us for more help and advice. Together, let’s stop smoking.
