After visiting relatives and friends in Stockport, I was surprised by how many of my friends have converted from smoking cigarettes to the revolutionary new e-cigarette.
There are approximately 10 million smokers in the UK, of which approximately 1.3 million have now switched over to the new electronic cigarettes – at the time of this post.
E-cigarettes deliver a similar amount of nicotine to conventional cigarettes, but without the known harmful effects of tar and smoke. This is achieved by the vaporization of the nicotine as the smoker draws in air through a chamber – similar to smoking a conventional cigarette.
However many countries are now in the process of imposing legislation on e-cigarettes and intend to classify them as medicines. In the UK, e-cigarettes are to be classified as medicines from 2016.
Some countries such as Brazil, Norway and Singapore have completely banned e-cigarettes. Interestingly, it is normal in Norway and Sweden to buy purified tobacco in small bags similar to teabags, which are inserted between the gums and lips. These bags are called Snus and release a similar dose of nicotine to conventional cigarettes. Sweden also has one of the lowest rate of tobacco related diseases.
Snus is banned in most European countries.
Should tobacco companies be worried about e-cigarettes?
Many analysts think so, and two of the worlds largest tobacco companies, BAT and Imperial Tobacco have been downgraded by some business analysts from buy recommendations. The e-cigarette market is expected to grow from $2 billion to $3 billion in 2013.
One of the most popular e-cigarette brands on the UK market are called E-Lites.
E-Lites cost approximately £1.50 for 20 cigarettes compared with approximately £8 per pack of 20 Benson and Hedges cigarettes.
Another benefit of e-cigarettes is that many pubs and restaurants allow the smoking of them indoors – especially beneficial to UK smokers, who currently have to stand outside in our notoriously bad English weather.
Being an ex smoker, I asked one of my friends if I could try their e-cigarette and I have to say they are extremely close to the real thing not only in their operation, but also in the nicotine effect – I felt high as a kite for over half an hour.
You can buy E-Lite cigarettes directly from their website here
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