In recent years, smoking has fallen in many countries; however, consumers have turned to “vaping”, the result of a new alternative called E-cigarettes.
E-cigs have become the new hype, and work by heating liquid nicotine into vapour which smokers then inhale and exhale. In Europe alone, 7 million people use e-cigs, where it competes with cigarettes and smoking cessation products without the taxes and regulations.
As e-cigarettes rise in popularity, the tobacco industry must consider whether or not a “Kodak-moment” (when Kodak, the biggest maker of camera film, failed to adapt to consumers’ change in taste) will come and how they should adapt to stay in the game. Some firms have taken pre-emptive measures against this possible future, using tactics such as taking stakes in e-cigarette companies or developing their own products; nicotine-inhalers and less-toxic tobaccos are expected to roll out within the next few years.
Check out this news report regarding the safety of e-cigarettes (watch till 4:05)
The safety of e-cigs are controversial; however, it does not seem to be affecting the rising demand for it. Yet.
Standing alongside Rafael Castillo, I agree that although tests have been done to judge the e-cigs’ effectiveness in smoking cessation, its use can only be condoned, not recommended. Reasons being it fails to ween one out of the habits of smoking (holding, lighting, and breathing a cigarette) and some users may misinterpret e-cigs as a “healthier” alternative to tobacco, continuing their intake of nicotine through that.
Fellow student Scott Marshall also gives his take as to what the European Union should do. What’s your take on e-cigarettes?