The BBC has posted an article about e-cigarettes following the San Francisco vaping ban, explaining the positive side of vaping and why the UK won’t be following suit and banning the sale of vaping products.
We wanted to ensure that you understand how safe e-cigarettes are, as there can be some confusion with different news articles that are published.
Vape kits offer a variety of built-in protections, depending on brand and model, such as: ‘short-circuit protection’, ‘over-heat protection’, 10-second cut-off’ and much more. These built-in protections stop the devices from overheating, or causing any damage to the device itself.
E-Liquids, that are used with vape kits, are made up of PG, VG, flavourings and nicotine.
- PG (Propylene Glycol) - A thin liquid used in many food additives and cosmetic products. This compound is recognised and tested as safe by the MHRA due to its low toxicity and vapour pressure.
- VG (Vegetable Glycerine) - This compound has been used for a long time in foods, cosmetic products, pharmaceuticals and much more.
- Flavourings – All flavourings used within e-liquids have to meet the MHRA’s safety standard regulations to ensure they are safe to use.
As e-cigarettes have been identified as a much safer and less harmful alternative to smoking, health organisations have backed e-cigarette use, as any associated risks would be minimal in comparison to the risks associated with smoking, and vaping has been found to be an enormously effective way to give up smoking.
Research has found that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than smoking, and although research into long term e-cigarette use is ongoing, no definite health risks have been identified.
Cutting out all of the harmful substances found in combustible tobacco and switching to vaping, many people notice improvements in their health and wellbeing after only a couple of weeks, and the risks of smoking related disease and illness drops more and more with every year that the person remains smoke free.
How Do E-cigarettes Work?
Here in the UK we have embraced e-cigarettes for exactly what they are; a smoking cessation tool designed to assist adult smokers in quitting smoking tobacco. An e-cigarette is a device which vaporises liquids, known as e-liquids, which are made up of vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, flavours and can contain nicotine.
Nicotine is an addictive substance, and is the reason giving up smoking can be difficult; however, it does not cause cancer like many of the other harmful substances found in tobacco products. By switching to an e-cigarette, smokers can slowly ween themselves off of the nicotine at a pace they find comfortable, while cutting out all of the other extremely harmful substances.
Cutting out all of the harmful substances found in combustible tobacco and switching to vaping, many people notice improvements in their health and wellbeing after only a couple of weeks, and the risks of smoking related disease and illness drops more and more with every year that the person remains smoke free.
How The UK Deters Youth Vaping
Following the San Francisco vaping ban there could easily be some people who are questioning whether the devices are safe to use, and why the ban came about. The BBC has posted an enlightening article which explains why vaping is being banned in San Francisco and why a similar ban is unlikely to ever happen in the UK.
Strict codes are in place to make sure that e-cigarettes and e-liquids are advertised towards the appropriate audience, adult smokers, and that they are not made to seem appealing to young people who are not of legal age to use such a device.
The ‘Think 25’ initiative is also an effective tool for cracking down on potential sales to minors, ensuring that anyone who looks under the age of 25 must show valid ID before a sale can be made.
For these reasons, the UK does not have the same problem the US is experiencing, and youth vaping remains extremely low.
With smoking rates in the UK now at an all time low, around 15%, the NHS are considering offering e-cigarettes on prescription, and laws may be relaxed surround their use in public places and transport. It can be considered that the UK is an excellent example of how e-cigarettes, when regulated effectively and recognised for their benefits, can be a fantastic tool in the fight for a smoke free future.
If you would like to learn more about e-cigarettes and how they could help you or a loved one to quit smoking, pop in to your local Evapo store and speak to a member of our team. You can also find lots more useful information on our blog.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48770808
