Taking up vaping has become a popular means to help quit smoking. From a 2020 study, research suggests the UK had roughly 2.7 adult million vapers. It’s widely seen by health professionals as a safer way to reduce your nicotine and stop inhaling cigarette smoke. However, the sceptics still remain while further research is carried out to highlight its use. Is life insurance for vapers as high as it is for smokers?

If you have recently followed their example, you might have expected to see lower premiums on your life insurance. However, a close look at the facts paints a sobering picture. It suggests many insurers remain in the dark about the health implications of vaping compared to smoking.

Have You Recently Quit Smoking Thanks to Vaping?

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK’s proportion of cigarette smokers fell from 15.8% in 2016 to 14.1% in 2019, with that figure likely decreasing further during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the fear of contracting the lung disease.

Although it’s good those figures have seen an increase which is positive for the government’s plan to stop smoking by 2030, smokers need a suitable alternative that increases the chances of making that switch a permanent one. In the past, people have turned to nicotine replacement therapies such as gum or patches. 

However, in more recent times, e-cigarettes have provided the answer. In life it’s natural people want to cover themselves adequately with life insurance. As we know smokers have always had higher premiums due to the risks it carries, but what about vaping? Although nicotine is the only substance from cigarettes in a vape, what do insurance firms say about the industry?

Do Insurers Look Kindly on Vapers?

Generally, the answer is no. Most vapers will struggle to get lower premiums when seeking insurance. It’s all based on the insurance provider, who believe vaping is just as dangerous as smoking. Therefore, it’s worth doing your research to get the best offer possible. 

The likes of Aegon, AIG, Aviva and Zurich are all life insurers that have admitted to taking this stance. With more positive research about vaping, life insurance for vapers will reduce and not match smokers insurance prices. Sadly, there remain several life insurers that don’t appear to distinguish between vaping and smoking when calculating premiums – but why?

One such insurer, Vitality, has called vaping “a relatively new activity compared to smoking tobacco”, adding that it “does not have an entirely clear risk-benefit profile; there are multiple perspectives on how vaping affects current, ex- and never-smokers.”

The insurer explains: “We do not presently incentivise vaping and are keenly following the debate as the evidence base for the impact of vaping grows”.

L&G is another insurer taking a similar view, insisting that there are not “any studies which show the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.” L&G concedes that “recent studies suggest vaping is better for health compared to smoking cigarettes, but it appears clear they are still worse for you than not smoking at all.”

Could This Change in the Future for Vapers?

While several insurers are reluctant to meaningfully differentiate between smoking and vaping, there remains hope for vapers left despondent by these insurers’ stances.

Robert West, a health professor at University College London, has argued: “Nicotine is not what kills you when you smoke tobacco. Vaping is probably about as safe as drinking coffee.”

Hence, it might not be long before you can enjoy the best e-liquid without impacting your wallet via life insurance.

We are soon seeing the end of Public Health England (PHE), with a rebrand to the ‘National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP)’. For now, all the talk is about the Coronavirus pandemic, which is a large reason for the change in direction. However, that hasn’t stopped the current government agency, whose mission is a responsibility to ‘protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities’ from releasing their latest findings on e-cigarettes in 2021. This is the seventh update about vaping, dating back to 2015 with the now-famous report in the industry highlighting its importance in the fight against tobacco. Will we see the end of Public Health England E-Cigarettes updates?

PHE has over the years focused on many areas of improving UK health, vaping has quickly become a much-debated topic. This is despite many medical experts understanding how it can reduce nicotine levels, leading thousands to stop smoking cigarettes. Plenty of respectable government agencies and health organisations have backed vaping as a cessation tool. But the jury is still out on its worth as a way to give up smoking, typically sensationalised as negative by the British and in particular US media.

What the seventh extensive report in 2021 by the PHE researchers and medical professionals highlights is vaping remains a gateway to prevent smoking and not a gateway that leads to smoking.

What Does the PHE 2021 Report Claim?

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the 2021 report didn’t have the same amount of research compared to previous years. Nevertheless, the results still proved it was worth the effort. For instance, like a nicotine replacement therapy, there is a much higher percentage of vaping products users. This is in comparison with other methods such as Varenicline, a medicine you take orally. In 2020, 27.2% of people used vape products such as pods, mods and vape pens to quit. Only 4.4% used Varenicline at the other end of the scale.

The 2021 study highlighted similarities between the past seven yearly updates from PHE. This essentially details the best method for quitting smoking – medicine and a vaping product together, one after the other. In most of the studies conducted, the researchers offered older vaping products and mainly tobacco e-liquids to understand the impact. The 2021 PHE report noted that:

1. Further research is needed into the barriers and enablers to using vaping products as part of a supported quit attempt to stop smoking services.
2. Local authorities should continue to fund and provide stop smoking services and all stop smoking services should have a consistent approach to the use of vaping products.
3. Further research is needed to assess whether smokers who use stop smoking services and vaping products differ from smokers who use the services and other smoking cessation aids.
4. More studies are needed which include newer types of vaping products that have better nicotine delivery.

How the Vaping Industry Can Continue to Evolve

Even in the 2017 report alone, more than 50,000 people in the UK stopped smoking thanks to vaping. With less nicotine, thanks to greater control via vaping, smokers have a fighting chance of ending their addiction. The research from the report also demonstrated how multiple Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) creates a better opportunity to remove tobacco. As we know, millions die each year from a variety of illnesses associated with tobacco combustion. For this reason, the UK has already set a target of 2030 to eradicate this issue.

Even though the PHE agency will cease to exist, it’s vital vaping receives positive media attention. Spreading the word about this increasingly used cessation tool is more important than ever. The UK needs continued Public Health England e-cigarettes reports to inform the general public about the benefits of vaping. Organisations such as the NHS, Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation back this movement. Why shouldn’t the government continue to do so?

Hopefully, with Covid-19 showing promising signs of slowing down thanks to increased vaccinations, we will see an increase and not a decrease in research. The yearly reports highlight the importance of government-funded research to reduce smoking habits. We look forward to the 2022 report at Let’s Stop Smoking.

Time and time again, we’re seeing the narrative change in a negative way in the USA regarding the vaping industry. In comparison to Europe and Asia, where e-cigarettes are hugely popular, the United States of America is imposing as much legislation and media coverage as possible to create a negative light around vaping. This now extends to shipping, in particular focusing heavily on the USPS (United States Postal Service).

Since the EVALI outbreak and the bad press JUUL received, with both hyped up by the US media to scandalise the vaping industry, the US government has clamped down on vaping use, in particular among the youth of society. The latest step – the US ban on mail shipments of vaping products to a country of more than 330 million people. What does this landmark passing in congress mean for the people of the USA? How will it affect small vaping businesses based outside of the USA that send products over there? Let’s assess the next steps once this change comes into effect.

The Omnibus Spending Bill Explained

One of Donald Trump’s final significant acts as president towards the end of December 2020 involved his signature, passing a very important law in the USA. A mere 5,500 pages of content heavily related to Coronavirus relief, signed by the 45th President, included a key passage ‘Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act’. It’s very carefully worded because although it points out something which is a necessity, it goes much deeper in terms of meaning for the vaping industry. While it’s great that the US is putting a stop to children vaping, it also reduces choice for adult vapers.

What it essentially creates is a dilemma for the vaping industry in the USA and further afield. When the bill was passed through Congress on the 27th of December, despite opposition to the bill from vaping lead authorities and advocates, it changed everything. From March 2021, the US Postal Service (USPS) will cease all shipments and mailing of vaping products. 

What Does the USPS Ban Mean For Vapers?

It’s a huge deal for those using vaping products, as well as business making and distributing them to the United States. With over 600,000 employees, the USPS currently has a huge responsibility to deliver all types of vaping-related products to customers across the USA. It will require paying extra for shipping in all likelihood, ordering for delivery through independent courier companies to make deliveries. Considering some areas are out of delivery zones, and the follow-up announcement of FedEx also not making vaping product delivery, it leaves a massive issue for vapers. 

Where will they get their products from? How much extra will it cost? Will new president Joe Biden reverse the decision through congress or support it? These are the kind of questions that will cause serious concern for vapers in the coming months and years ahead. When you factor in many turn to e-cigarettes as a nicotine alternative to smoking, often used as a cessation tool to quit and improve health, many may struggle with the new enforced legislations.

Any businesses wishing to proceed with shipments of nicotine and even non-nicotine vaping products will have to pass strict measures. These set out by the ‘Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, itself a part of the Jenkins Act. Penalties include up to a three-year prison sentence for any business that doesn’t follow the strict rules of PACT. This doesn’t just stop with products surrounding the vaping industry. It includes CBD and vaping THC too, which is a blow to the emerging and evolving Cannabidiol (CBD) industry.

How Will USPS Ban Impact Vaping Business

The PACT agreement features a long list of rules. Vaping businesses must adhere to these if they wish to stay successful and at the very least operational. Fines are just the beginning if a vaping business does not follow strict regulations in place. We all know the tobacco business has massively profited during the Coronavirus pandemic, leaving the vaping industry in a predicament. Because the US government continues to impose these rules against vapers using the cessation tool, the ripple effect only increases.

The USPS ban will certainly prove a challenge for consumers too. Where will they go to get their products? Will it involve risking their health during a pandemic to visit a local store for vaping supplies? With delivery limited, it may cause a greater risk short and long term to the US public. For years the USPS have provided a vital service to the vaping community. Now during the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, vapers will need to find another way.

Next Steps

During the next few months of 2021, we will all see how the vaping industry deals with this latest blow. As they continue to innovate products and e-liquids, surely they will do the same with distribution processes. The Omnibus Bill is the latest hurdle – one the vaping industry will wish to clear. In terms of ‘next steps’, outsourcing to independent couriers is even more vital now. Using solely services like UPS to meet customer demands appears to be the only way right now. Otherwise, they face losing potential customers. Or run the risk of creating a situation where people, especially the younger generation, will simply revert to smoking. 

Smoking has been prominent in society for decades, taking the lives of millions a year through a variety of illnesses. This can range from lung disease to cancer. The issue is being tackled, with smoking declining year on year based on recent statistics and the Covid-19 pandemic. The latter is a predominantly a lung-related risk, hence the need/desire for more to give up smoking cigarettes.

A variety of health authorities such as Cancer UK, the NHS and Public Health England are continuing to do all in their power to raise awareness. They’re doing this by attempting to address all groups affected. Examples include groups such as younger smokers (teenagers) and those passing of second-hand smoke to children. One group that does not get the same attention and should do is the homeless, and this was a key focus for the recent Leaving No Smoker Behind presentation held online in January 2021.

There are obvious reasons why the homeless do not have access to the same resources as the general public do to give up smoking. Common cessation tools such as nicotine patches and gum have been suggested in the past as useful aids to help smokers give up cigarettes, with mixed success. However, in recent times, we have seen a surge in the popularity of e-cigarettes as an improvement on traditional methods, with a 2019 study suggesting it’s twice as effective.

The Aim of the ‘Leaving No Smoker Behind’ Study

To help an often overlooked group get more help to give up smoking, a group of medical professionals presented their findings on how e-cigarettes helped the homeless reduce their cigarette smoking. This panel was led by the head of Public Health Tobacco Control Martin Dockrell, with presentations by Dr Deborah Robson, Louise Ross and Professor Lynne Dawkins, who found some interesting studies on how vaping helped the homeless combat smoking. 

As Dockrell enthusiastically opened the presentation, he reflected on his past experiences working with people who have HIV. In addition to welcoming all who joined the study online as well as introducing the keynote speakers. He explained how most of his work involved the ‘most disenfranchised of the public’ – including drug users and gay men. Dockrell added the same applied to the smoking population, with ‘much of the smoking burden similarly falls most heavily on the most disadvantaged and excluded’.

Discussed above, you can see why 80% of the adult homeless smoke tobacco. Often overlooked, they get little assistance from the public, typically inhaling combustible cigarettes because they’re more accessible. Also, the habit is harder to reduce when around other homeless that follow a similar habit. Therefore, Dockrell was enthused to introduce speakers such as Dawkins, who has ‘done really interesting work’ on e-cigarettes. Noted by the NHS as a potential treatment that can help people give up smoking.

Homeless Smoking Study Results

What Professor Dawkins compiled based on 52 different studies highlighted the key issue among the homeless – cost. It reduced their chances of cessation through e-cigarettes was the price of a starter kit. She highlighted that only one study took place in the UK, with more done in the US. The study highlighted that the kit was difficult to keep hold of for the homeless. Those keeping hold of the devices reduced in a 12 week period of the study, with:

• 13 people no longer having the e-cigarette after 24 weeks
• Six after 12 weeks
• Six people lost or misplaced the e-cigarette after four weeks

However, the study offered positives, according to Dawkins. The London South Bank University professor claimed it did not lead to the homeless using the devices to vape drugs. Neither did they turn to different drugs after vaping. Plus, after 24 weeks, 27 people continued to use the e-cigarette after the study ended, while only seven did not.

Vaping e-cigarettes among the homeless ended up being three times more successful than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) methods used. Adding centres for the homeless around the UK. Providing useful facts and tips about how to vape using an Aspire Pocke-X Kit. Helping those struggling with cigarette addiction choose which e-liquids piqued the interest of the homeless involved in the studies. The study often featured those smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day. 

Key Takeaway From the Presentation

Smoking is still a widespread problem, not just upon the general population but among overlooked groups. Like the vapers who require even more assistance to reduce and hopefully stop this habit. Studies like the one done by Professor Hawkins need to increase to assist the homeless in any way possible. 

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:

• For people who previously smoked at least 100 cigarettes, or now do so daily, any teenager switching to e-cigarettes is less likely to join the smoking community at 17 years of age.
• 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:

1. Could vaping lead to a transition back to smoking?
2. Is the way businesses market vaping an issue and enticing teenagers?
3. More long-term research and results is still the challenge that needs addressing.

Despite fears in the US that vaping leads to cigarette smoking and nicotine consumption, studies in France differ. They highlight that this is not the case. Plus the defence of vaping from Public Health England suggest e-cigarettes are less dangerous to teenagers. It’s a question of who you believe is right, with the harm of inhaling cigarettes understood on a global scale. Meanwhile, we still need more research from the vaping industry

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. 

But before we deep dive into the full specification of the device and its key advantages, let’s consider whether the device is tailor-made for a particular vaper. Overall, the Kroma-R iTaste Zlide is a great little piece of hardware for any vaper. However, we believe it’s ideally suited for Mouth to Lung (MTL) vapers. If you’re a beginner to the industry and confused what MTL is, you can find everything about this technique and its opposite number Direct to Lung (DTL) here.

For instance, Mouth to lung is a familiar technique with former smokers, who experience a similar technique with cigarettes. Therefore, any beginners changing to vaping would love the Kroma-R iTaste Zlide experience. However, vaping is not just about the right technique you use, although this is important. You also need to consider factors such as what sort of cloud production you prefer. Huge clouds are fun for some but others perhaps like stealthy vaping out of view. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what works well with the Kroma-R iTaste Zlide – there is much to consider.

Innokin iTaste Kroma-R Zlide Key Features

One of the key features with the Innokin Kroma-R is the Zlide tank. An upgrade on the iTaste Kroma-A model, the addition of the Zlide tank to the Kroma-R iTaste is popular for lots of reasons.

• Adjustable airflow
• 2ml capacity
• Enhanced life of your coils
• Drip tip locking mechanism
• Stylish design which fits on multiple mods

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:

1. Click the fire button three times to turn on.
2. You can lock the display by clicking the fire button together with the down arrow.
3. To enter the menu, press the up and down arrows simultaneously.
4. 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.

Verdict

For MTL vapers, this is one of the best around, particularly because it supports the majority of Zlide and Zenith tanks. As we know, smoking is on the decline because of a greater awareness of the damage it does to your health. Therefore, many are now looking towards vaping as an alternative. 

But making that adjustment is tough initially, so a similar experience through an MTL technique is the best bet. If this is your reason for vaping, the Innokin Kroma-R iTaste Zlide Kit fits the bill.

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.