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You are all no doubt aware of the global effects that tobacco smoking has on both the health of humans and the environment. The continued efforts of governments from around the world to limit the damage cigarettes can cause have been aided in recent years by the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes.


Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) recently published figures which showed an estimated 2.9 million people are using electronic cigarettes in the UK. Up from 700,000 in 2012, this rapid growth is primarily due to the fact that e-cigarettes act as an excellent tobacco cessation device. While e-cigarettes (also known as e-cigs or vape sticks) have received a great deal of negative media attention, much of this is based on unfounded accusations which choose to ignore international scientific studies.
However, electronic cigarettes have the facts on their side.


A Record Low in UK Smoking Rates — and Record High for Vape Sticks


Alongside that rise in electronic cigarette use, 2017 is the year that we’ve seen the lowest percentage of smokers in the UK since records began. With over half of the UK’s users of vape sticks quitting tobacco cigarettes completely, the future of smoking appears to be bleak.


The National Health Service in particular has contributed greatly to these amazing results. Electronic cigarettes are now recommended by the NHS as a tobacco cessation treatment. Largely thanks to this, the UK is a country with one of the lowest cigarette consumption rates per capita in Europe, which is really fantastic news!


Promoting a Smoke-Free Britain


But of course, there is still work to be done to promote a smoke-free Britain. The most recent plan laid out by the government recommends that businesses allow their staff to vape within the office. Considering the significance of staff welfare on employee productivity and retention, it seems inconsiderate to allow those trying to quit smoking to vape alongside smokers in a designated smoking area.


It’s also important to consider the cost to our public services that tobacco smoking causes. The NHS would be able to save around £2 billion a year if the UK was able to achieve smoke-free status. It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to ignore the widespread damage that cigarettes cause our society and the planet. Electronic cigarettes are fast becoming the most prominent solution within the UK to prevent and reduce these harmful effects.


How An Electronic Cigarette Can Help You Quit!


We’re lucky here in the UK, as electronic cigarettes are regarded by experienced health care professionals and scientific researchers as an important tool in helping cigarette smokers to quit. In America for example, electronic cigarettes have experienced much stricter regulations which have been designed to make electronic cigarettes harder to purchase than tobacco ones.


In addition to the research supporting them, electronic cigarettes can claim to be such an effective tobacco cessation device because they can operate as a direct replacement for cigarettes — with almost all of the risks avoided! The most difficult aspects of quitting smoking include breaking daily routines, oral fixation and, of course, the nicotine cravings. Instead of working against these feelings and trying to ‘break’ them, electronic cigarettes simply work alongside them as a cleaner alternative.


Other reasons to support electronic cigarettes include: being able to cut nicotine intake to nothing by reducing the strength of your e-liquids, preventing the obligatory binge eating after quitting with the variety of flavours available, and promoting UK business. Many vape brands are actually produced within the UK, with home grown vape manufacturers making many of the best e-liquids of 2017.


Perhaps you know someone who would like to quit smoking, but has struggled to really empower themselves to do so. The UK is heading towards becoming a smoke-free society, but we can’t do so by forcing people to change their lifestyles. Offering a supportive and effective alternative will be the most successful solution, so that one day we and our planet can breathe easy.