As a frequent reader of yours, I was saddened and disheartened to see you post an article about e-cigarettes, and I wanted to contact you to set the record straight, as I felt the article was exceptionally biased, and not particularly rational. I have therefore felt compelled to write a very quick response. What you do with it is up to you.
Firstly, as a general note, the vaping industry is currently going up against big tobacco, big pharma and government – a bold and brave thing to do for so small and new an industry. This means we are creating enemies, who are pushing their propaganda and using scare tactics as a way to discredit us. Please also keep in mind that a lot of money has been spent by those mentioned above to try to prove that vaping does not work. If their ‘research’ had found any evidence, do you not think they would have blurted it out in the MSM as loudly as possible? As an insider, I can tell you that the vast majority of companies are SMEs: owned independently and remaining fiercely independent. These are the people who are fighting against big pharma and big tobacco, not supporting or selling out to them. There are a few companies who have sold out, and big tobacco is looking to get in on the act (as it is losing so much money to vaping, which is set to overtake it by 2023), but this represents maybe 1-2% of vaping companies.
To address specific points raised in the article:
Vaping encourages children to start smoking
First off, there is NO (and that is in the literal sense) evidence that vaping leads on to smoking. People who have already quit smoking, or who have never started smoking, do not vape. This is the same for children. People who vape don’t start smoking.
Secondly, the only product in e-cigarettes which is also found in tobacco is nicotine. This can also be found in tomatoes (and in fact some e-cigarette companies use nicotine extracted from tomatoes rather than from tobacco). Do tomatoes make children start smoking?
Thirdly, the industry is self-regulating and is very careful to avoid selling to children (see ECITA as an example), as this is often the way people or industries who are doing nothing wrong are attacked (surely you are aware of the false flag situations surrounding children as a way of expanding the power of the state?).
Fourthly, yes: there are nice flavours, and why not? Tobacco, after all, tastes grim and that is one of the reasons I will not return from vaping to smoking. But pizza can taste nice as well, although that can lead to all sorts of health issues if taken in the extreme.
Furthermore, nicotine taken in the quantities contained in e-cigarettes has been found to be about as dangerous as caffeine – it is the other chemicals in tobacco that stop it from being safe. So I feel this article is actually getting puritanical about something that isn’t bad for you. Do you think Christmas should be banned as well (after all, it does encourage overeating)?
E-cigarettes don’t help you quit
The most recent findings from ASH (the leaders on anti-smoking campaigns), show that e-cigarettes are far more effective than any alternative as a way of quitting smoking independently. There are currently 2.7million vapers in the UK who would testify to this. My own company’s research – done for inclusion within a review of the EU – shows that vaping has had a considerable impact on those giving up smoking. Do even a limited amount of independent research on the internet, and you will discover this for yourself.
E-cigarettes may contain carcinogens and/or cause infertility
Notice the use of the word ‘may’. This means that there is absolutely no way to prove it, but put it in anyway to scare people. The only ingredients in eliquid are:
– PG/VG, which are used in a number of things and in testing have been shown to be in the main passive. Whilst some people have a mild intolerance to PG, they can opt to use wholly VG (vegetable glycerine), which is available in most health food stores;
– nicotine (see my above comment about caffeine); and
– flavourings, most often derived from steeping plants and fruits and other consumables, and which are usually organic. Again, the industry self regulates, and any questions about ingredients tend to get addressed reasonably quickly. There is, however, a case for improved regulation to stop untested products being included by cowboys.
Almost all of the time, I support what you are doing here. But when you post an article so full of propaganda and omitting so much relevant research, I begin to question what else you have posted. It is a sad fact with social media and the like that it’s the headlines that get the attention, not the reality.
If you want more information, please feel free to visit planetofthevapes.co.uk.
Regards,
Debbie Kilroy
