Cigarette smoking for more than a century now has developed a reputation as the constant companion of the cool and the socially successful. Whether you’re chilling in a pub, a club, or even just at a friend’s house, it seems that someone always whips out a smoke or two which if you’re not a smoker, can be quite a pain.
Unless you already partake in the habit, being slowly covered in clouds made up of various chemicals is something that can easily kill your vibe. We’ve all been to events where the room’s taken on something of a divide, between smokers at one end and non-smokers at the other. Not the best atmosphere for getting the party atmosphere going.
Yet what you may have noticed recently amongst your social circle is that more and more smokers are putting down cigarettes in favour of E-cigarettes (e-cigs). These nifty little guys can completely simulate the act of smoking, but do so using flavoured vapour in place of tobacco and all the other nasty bits that go into a regular cigarette.
The act of smoking these e-cigs is known as ‘vaping’, and has gone from the signature accessory of the hipster to something that is now enjoyed by those from all backgrounds. Plenty of A-listers have also made the switch, so you might have seen regularly a few cheeky puffs here and there across pop culture.
Why Is Vaping So Popular?
Several factors have contributed to people switching from cigarette smoking to vaping.
The main thing that has led to vaping spreading so rapidly, is because of how similar it is to smoking a cigarette. You still go through the same routine of taking a few puffs with just the click of a button, and the ‘hit’ from the smoke is just as good-and tastier with such a wide range of e-liquid flavours on offer. This means that for those looking to quit smoking for good, vaping is a really good way to put down the cigarettes, without going cold turkey from the start.
It’s also pretty cheap, and will save you from having to constantly queue to buy more and more packets of tobacco and other smoking bits. Whilst picking out the right e-cig for you can take a while and cost a bit, it’s a one-off expense that you won’t have to repeat for quite a while.
Also as various governments keep taxing tobacco more and more, vaping is being viewed more and more as the healthier and hipper alternative. Even the NHS thinks that the new kid on the block is 95% safer than regular smoking, and they don’t just support any old thing without a lot of research! Whilst many fail to quit using nicotine patches, nicotine gum and other similar methods, vaping has helped so many people finally overcome their demons.
Cigarette Smoking Is Old News
Unfortunately, the standard of education around the world to do with smoking isn’t all that great. Big tobacco companies have been accused for years of trying to hook the young to get them started early, so it’s crucial that an alternative is found for them ASAP. These dirty tricks are luckily being found out thanks to social media, and more than a few smokers are no longer so keen to give their money to such an uncaring bunch.
There has also been a lot of shake-ups done again by various governments, who have put laws in place to restrict cigarettes from appearing as they once did in the media. Gone are the days where cigarette brands would be plastered on ad boards, sponsor sporting events and even portray themselves as kid-friendly, they are now kept well out of sight and even hidden in supermarkets behind the counter.
Out and about as well, the owners of various social scenes are turning their back on smokers who no longer make up such a key part of their clientele. Traditional smoking is banned in the vast majority of bars, nightclubs, etc., whereas vaping although not permitted everywhere, is much more tolerated thanks to its lack of second-hand smoke.
Therefore, where once smoking was the thing to do if you wanted to fit in socially, things are now actually working the other way around. As our knowledge of the impact of smoking on the body has improved, collectively the habit is nowhere near as accepted as a harmless pastime as it once was. E-cigarettes totally remove this issue, as the vapour it gives off has virtually no effect unlike regular smoke which can wreck your lungs and those of your friends in an instant. Vaping therefore has become the best of both worlds, providing both smokers and non-smokers alike with a happy middle-ground.
What are your thoughts on vaping?
*Collaborative post.
I gave up smoking before vaping came in so this was a really interesting read…it certainly looks like cigarettes have had their time!
Yea I agree.
I don’t like smoking or vaping, even if the second is supposed to be healthier for you.
Yea for non smokers, it is a no-no, but for those trying to stop, yes-yes.
I’ve always been against smoking! I’ve never tried a cigarette and have never had a desire to. Although I appreciate vaping because it smells wayyyy better, I truly don’t think it’s much healthier.
I think it is for smokers trying to stop.
I’ve never smoked but agree, it has always been very popular among the coolest folks, and I can certainly see why vaping would become more popular with those crowds. Some of my friends vape, but I always thought it looked faintly ridiculous!
Great for smokers trying to stop. That is how I see it.
Im not a fan of vaping at all. I think it has definitely become something quite “cool” and for that reason it is appealing to teenagers. I know my son tells me lots of people in his school vape and they see it as harmless when actually, vaping is still very harmful!
Yea it is. Teenagers would try anything. I see many smoking after school while doing the school run.
As a former smoker, I like that there is now the option of vaping to help people quit or never get started on cigarettes in the first place. But e-cigs still have nicotine in them.
I prefer my shared air space not to be filled with fake cotton candy smoke clouds. Vaping in public is just as intrusive as regular smoking to those that don’t smoke. I wish there were designated vaping areas!
Yea having an option for smokers is a good idea.
Vaping allowed my husband to kick a habit of smoking after years of doing it. As a social, fun thing for teens to do, I think it’s moronic, but as a tool to stop smokers, it’s a godsend.
Yea it is a great tool for anyone trying to give up smoking.
I am an ex-smoker who stopped traditional cigarettes via vaping. That was 5 years ago. I still vape now. I use 1 of the larger 1’s who is battery rectangular shaped. I know me. I know I would never have stayed stop traditional cigarettes without vaping. Alot of us who continue to use vaping. It’s more of a swap than a stop, so to speak.
My husband also stopped using the e-cigarettes. He rarely uses his now and has an e-cigar for when he is inclined, which is rarely. He still likes to have it with him. Alot of our friends have stopped with the same method. Some have also quit vaping, some are like me and continue to vape.
NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) which is FYI an independent organisation, set up by the Government in 1999. NICE decides which drugs and treatments are available on the NHS in England and Wales also recommend vaping over smoking and it is in their guidelines.
Vaping is considered 95% safe. The other 5% is to cover themselves and any other unknown possible consequences in 20 years plus time when any long term affects can be considered if there are any.
Yes like anyone, over anything there are people who don’t see the harm in vaping big clouds over people as Katia C above says. These people are the type who would be inconsiderate over anything.
I would never go back to traditional smoking now. I did try a cigarette 6 months after I had stopped traditional cigarettes, and was ill through it going to prove just how vile they were. It took me 2 days to recover from that 1 traditional cigarette. I could feel the poisons seeping in my system.
As for the young people who are apparently having these at school, they are obviously buying them illegally. The stats done on young people/non smokers starting e-cigs are very minuet.
Yes as I vape I have read up alot on it. I personally recommend it. However I do recommend that people who are thinking about making the swap please buy from a proper e-cig shop and not in pound shops etc. as there are products out there that aren’t good quality, which is what leads to the accidents you hear happened. That with people not using the products properly
I can see how easy it is to swap cigarettes for ecigs, and I think it is a great way to stop smoking. Thanks for your lovely comment as always.
90% of the smokers at my work have now moved onto vaping, which makes the smoking shelter a much nicer smelling place! I personally wouldn’t move onto vaping until the long-term effects are known fully (aka not in my lifetime. Better the devil you know!), but I like that it’s an option, and I like that smoking is no longer cool.
Yea me too.
I think that vaping is probably a better alternative than cigarettes in regards to the chemicals contained in cigarettes. However, there are also dangers in vaping and I don’t think they will all be known for years to come. It is a good tool to help those quit cigarettes who would most likely not be able to quit any other way.
Yes it is a great tool.
I have many friends that have taken up vaping instead of smoking, I am not too sure of the facts about vaping but it seems that its a good way to get off cigarettes.
Yes it is.
Loved your take on the subject and would love to add to the dialogue. As a manufacture of complex high quality flavor profiles for this harm reduction technology and having seen this industry evolve from the roots, I can understand some of the concerns listed above i.e. vaping in public can be intrusive and appear faintly ridiculous to some.
Common sense and respect for peoples personal space are critical and should be observed when someone imbibes in a vape break, needless to say there are a handful of folks that want to show the world what device they are using and the humongous clouds they can blow… This is faintly ridiculous as your reader mentions above. There is a time and a place, typically, when enjoyed discretely or among others that smoke.
What I love about this technology is that it mitigates a tremendous amount of damage that traditional cigarettes have caused. The FDA commission said him self “its not the nicotine that kills; its the tar and the 5,000+ chemicals in combustible tobacco.’
My clothes, car and home smell great again. I don’t waste time at work on ‘smoke breaks’ and my kids hug me again. My lungs feel strong again and I can mountain bike, surf and run with no strain in them.
If you have any interest in seeing the future of vaping take a look, from devices to e-liquid, they are legitimizing this space one smoker at a time.
Looking forward to more of your work on this subject!
I agree with all you have said. Common sense and respect for people’s space is how to vape responsibly.
I hate it almost as much as smoking a real cigarette – nothing worse than walking along a road and then into a giant cloud of smoke, whether it is from a vape or a cigarette
I see what you mean Kara.
As a non-smoker, I wish more people would switch from cigarettes to vaping. It’s really unpleasant to suddenly get a lungful of cigarette smoke you weren’t expecting and vaping is practically pleasant by comparison.
Yea it is Keely. I am a non-smoker too!
My partner vaped to get off cigarettes and has now given up nicotine completely. I got a shock seeing teens vaping but I guess it is better for them than actual cigs
Yes it is. Teens try all sorts. Up to parents to look out for them.
BTW to answer those who were whining about how smoke ruins their day, vape “smoke” is water vapor. ie – steam. The other chemicals and flavoring are absorbed by the body. So the next time you complain about the steam in your shower it’s basically the same thing. I also was a pack a day smoker for thirty years, and quit to vape instead. It was the only way to quit I tried that ever worked.
Lysianassa oops sorry I meant to hit the like button and hit the wrong button. I cant seem to change it to like/thank you
Congratulations! Seriously! I’m in a similar boat, although for me it was 15 years of traditional cigarettes. I personally prefer the smell of a bakery to the smell of a bar. And I like how nothing I vape around has an odor, like everything used to have when I smoked.
Just started vaping instead of cigs and have to say I love it! Smells better and in my opinion … healthier! Thanks for writing about it as there isn’t enough on the blogs about this new trend.
I agree. Thanks for reading.
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I believe in vaping as a better opportunity than smoking cigarettes. It helped me to kick the nasty habit and many others too. I would greatly appreciate it if you would follow me or check out my blog on vaping. -Bel 🙂
Oh good. Off to check your blog.
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I quit smoking and started vaping several years ago, and it wasn’t until I quit cigarettes that I realised how badly I stank. I mean, I seriously reeked like an ashtray, and I didn’t even smoke inside, just outside! Once I made the switch, I could smell the acrid smoke smell everywhere, even in my fresh laundry.
Once that cleared out, my son’s asthma symptoms nearly disappeared. He only has flare-ups when we go out shopping now.
Oh wow! That is great.
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