Over 3 Million British People Could Be Affected By A Proposed Ban On Vaping And E-Cigarettes
One tobacco harm expert says: "If governments take it seriously, they will be protecting the cigarette trade, encouraging smoking, and adding to a huge toll of cancer, heart disease, and lung illness. Something has gone badly wrong here."
Vaping has become a popular pastime in today's society. Young teenagers are getting into "mods," and adults are switching to e-cigarettes to live a healthier lifestyle.
Most people would like to believe that the "vaping" craze indicates that cigarettes are on their way out and that people are transitioning to a healthier lifestyle. The vaping fad is now seen as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes.
Yet it could be just as harmful, if not worse, in reality. What's most alarming is that many e-cigarette and vaporizer businesses are thriving due to the absence of regulation surrounding these relatively new products.
Vaping, unlike traditional cigarettes, comes in exciting flavors that appeal to adults, young teenagers, and even adolescents. When vaping first gained popularity, several news headlines focused on how these new vape shops were selling to kids!
There were no laws to monitor and govern the sale of these tobacco products until recently. Because they are so new, there are currently no advertising laws in place for them.
Unlike regular cigarettes, these new enterprises and tobacco company subsidiaries can advertise their products on the radio and television. This does bring them a lot of buyers, as promoting them on TV and radio can be quite profitable.
Read the story below that discusses the effects of vapes on people, and the speculation about a potential ban, which has caused chaos and commotion among the British people.
WHO recommends restrictions of E-cigarettes
If new World Health Organization recommendations to restrict e-cigarettes are enacted, millions of Britons may be forced to give up vaping. Around 3.2 million Britons use e-cigarettes, and the industry has multiplied in recent years, with over 2,000 businesses reliant on the £2 billion industry.
However, if the UK joins the more than 30 countries that have already banned vaping, everything may change. The idea has elicited a lot of backlash, with some fearing that it may increase tobacco-related deaths by making it more difficult for smokers to quit without the help of vaping.
PexelsIt may contribute to causing cancer.
"The suggestion is totally irresponsible and odd," said Clive Bates, a tobacco damage specialist and former director of the anti-smoking organization ASH. If governments take it seriously, they will be defending the cigarette industry, encouraging smoking, and contributing to the massive toll of cancer, heart disease, and lung illness that already exists.
The WHO's proposed adjustment may potentially affect 2.4 million vapers in the United Kingdom. Their tobacco regulatory committee produced a recommendation that aims to target vapes that allow "the user to control device functions and liquid ingredients."
PexelsWhat's open vaping
This is known as open vaping, and it means that the user in an open system manually replaces the vaporized liquid. WHO is concerned that this procedure permits more dangerous compounds to be added to the liquid, potentially increasing its overall toxicity.
That makes sense, but couldn't you just add crack to mushy peas instead? The issue for the British economy is that 77 percent of vapers in the UK use open vaping.
PexelsAssisting smokers in quitting
While public health officials currently claim that vaping is 97 percent safer than smoking and recommend e-cigarettes for those trying to quit, the proposals will be discussed at a conference in Glasgow later this year. Expert Peter Hajek of Queen Mary University in London said, "Vaping does not appear to be very addictive, and e-cigarettes have been shown to assist smokers in quitting."
James Dunworth, who owns a chain of vape stores in Swansea, echoed his sentiments. "A prohibition would result in the premature deaths of smokers and an expansion of the underground market," he claimed.
PexelsA few exceptions
However, someone who died of vaping-related lung disease in the United Kingdom last year complicates matters even further. According to experts at Royal Papworth Hospital, the patient who met the criteria for a 'proven' diagnosis of vaping-associated lung injury was treated at one of the world's premier cardiothoracic hospitals and the UK's primary heart and lung transplant center (otherwise known as EVALI).
His appendix had been removed sometime before his hospital stay, which was the only underlying health condition he had. According to the report, the patient was a previously healthy man in his 40s who went to the emergency room with chest pain and shortness of breath that was worsening.
PexelsWe hope you find this article helpful and that it encourages you to leave behind all of your bad habits, such as smoking and drinking regularly. Doing these things in moderation is fine, but it is too hard to let go of when they become habits.
Share this with all the people who smoke cigarettes or consume e-cigs and vapes, and let them know about the toll it takes on their health. Motivate them to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
