NEWS
In simple terms, the lack of longevity
in terms of research means that most
bodies restrict themselves to a 95%
surety in their being entirely safe to use.
As recently as August 2015, an evidence
based report commissioned by Public
Health England * issued a lengthy report
on e-cigarettes which definitely said
vaping was 95% safer than smoking, that
it was very effective in the transition of
smokers to vaping, and had the potential
to save 80,000 people in the UK alone.
In this turf war, reputable juice
producers, typically the vanguard
boutique vape distilling houses,
are coming up trumps. Formed by
master artisans, the products contain
four ingredients, none of which are
carcinogenic. The same studies are also
showing that many of the e-cigarettes
produced by Big Tobacco contain more
of those unhelpful additions, currently
still legal, as regulations are only slowly
coming into being. As for the unlicensed
products from outside Europe, your
guess as to contents is as good as any.
The fledging industry is however already
self-regulating. Those smaller boutiques
are testing
and labelling to standards as yet to be
invented. Clean rooms are becoming
the norm and interestingly, most of the
products feature a zero grade of nicotine
which is still selling – if zero nicotine
products were just a PR exercise no
one would make them, much less sell
them. Boutique vape designers, building
along the same model as craft whiskey
distillers, argue that less nicotine delivers
more flavour and happier customers.
Finally there is argument that vaping
is attracting minors, that fruit flavoured
products are the alcopops of our
modern teen consumers. There are two
arguments which counter this. Firstly,
while uptake of vaping has increased
exponentially, it is in direct proportion
to the decrease in tobacco rates. The
uptake is consistent with a migration of
use, rather than new users. Secondly,
the gateway drug argument is called
upon. However, why would anyone, let
alone teenagers, migrate from flavoured
nicotine to tar-flavoured nicotine?
Most smokers recall the trouble of
initially overcoming the taste to achieve
the effect. Why go backwards into a
carcinogenic drug that tastes awful?
What is needed is regulation to
ensure that the core vape
product is exactly what
it says on the label
– whether from
Big Tobacco
or a
“If the NHS
states that
changing to
vaping will save
80,000 British
lives, then
surely that is
a good thing.
What price is a
person’s life?”
dodgy supplier in China. Then we need
to take a long, hard look at who is
pedalling what misinformation.
If the NHS states that changing to vaping
will save 80,000 British lives, then surely
that is a good thing.
What price is a person’s life?
*E-cigarettes: an evidence update.
A report commissioned by Public Health
England. Authors McNeill A, Brose LS,
Calder R, Hitchman SC from t he UK
Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies.
UKTAS is a network of 13 universities
funded by UK Clinical Research
Collaboration. Delivers independent
research on tobacco and alcohol use.
It is not funded by Big Tobacco or The
Drinks Industry. Visit www.UKCTAS.net
for more information.
Jillian Godsil is a journalist based in
Southern Ireland. She used to smoke
and gave up more than a decade ago,
but wishes vaping had been around to
make her choice easier.
She blogs at www.JillianGodsil.com
or can be found tweeting at
@JillianGodsil.
VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 19