Vaping News March 2023
By Jemma Wolfe
Published On: 20-04-23
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Brand & Blog
- Latest Vaping Data
- Studies
- Regulations
- Vaping Use Among Young People
- Elf Bar TPD Controversy
- Vaping New and Content Roundup
- Quit Smoking through Vaping
The world of vaping is constantly changing and adapting; from new products being released each month, to new changes to the law and regulations surrounding vaping— it can be hard to keep up. But fear not, here at myCigara, we pride ourselves in staying in-the-know and keeping our customers up to date on the latest news within the industry.
While our main goal is to provide users with the highest-quality UK vaping products, we also place much focus on keeping our readers informed and staying on top of the goings-on in the industry to allow them to keep making informed decisions while on their quit smoking journey.
A lot has changed since our last news update back in October; from the arrival of the first ever water-based vaping device, to a huge scandal surrounding one of the biggest names in the game. This roundup review will cover everything you might have missed over the last few months, addressing the new and emerging data on vaping, as well as a sneak peek at what’s coming soon. Without further ado, let’s jump in.
Latest Vaping Data
Since our last news update in October, there hasn’t been a huge shift or any major changes to report on; the use of disposable vapes are still on the rise, sceptics are still debating the effectiveness and safety of vaping, and people are still turning to vaping to help them quit smoking. This section covers any new reports and information that has come to light since our last roundup, keeping you up to date on the latest vaping news.
Studies
While not much has happened in the way of groundbreaking studies in the vaping world for quite some time, institutions and government bodies are constantly collecting their own data on a regular basis to keep track of the prevalence of vaping and its subsequent effects.
One study conducted by King’s College London delved into the age-old question; how does vaping affect the body? While we’re still unsure of long-term effects as this technology is still in its infancy, they gathered some interesting information on how vaping can affect users in the short term. Here are the key takeaways from that report:
● Switching from smoking to vaping leads to a “substantial reduction in exposure” to toxic substances that have been linked to smoking-related diseases.
● They suggested that the UK government should focus on helping people switch from smoking to vaping to help reduce smoking-related diseases.
● Biological changes in the body were often similar between vapers and people who neither smoke nor vape.
What we see from this data is that researchers are becoming more and more aware of how vaping can be a great harm-reduction tool for those who previously smoked, and they are now recommending that the government should do more to encourage people to make the switch.
Smoking causes many biological changes in the body, both short-term and long-term, whereas users of e-cigarettes don’t experience these same changes.
Regulations
Even though no new regulations on the use of e-cigarettes have been introduced in the UK since our last report, it hasn’t stopped people from debating it. The Scottish government has recently launched an urgent review into the use of disposable vapes, calling for a potential country-wide ban on these products.
The review is being led by Zero Waste Scotland amid concerns about the effects disposable vapes pose on the environment. The key points discussed during this debate include:
● Disposable vapes could potentially soon be banned in Scotland, pending the results of their urgent review.
● The move comes amid emerging concerns around the negative consequences of the devices, including littering.
● However, health bosses are still 'extremely' in favour of using vapes to help adult smokers quit smoking cigarettes.
Vaping Use Among Young People
The topic of the use of e-cigarettes amongst young people was covered in our previous round up, but I will follow-up on that report by including the latest news on the subject. The UK Government website has released new statistics on vaping amongst young people in 2022. The key findings are as follows:
● Most young people who have never smoked are also not currently vaping (98.3%).
● Vaping prevalence among adults who have never smoked remained very low, at between 0.6% and 0.7%.
● Vaping products remain the most common aid used by people to help them stop smoking.
● The risk and severity of nicotine dependency from vaping is lower than for smoking but varies by product characteristics (like device type and nicotine concentration in e-liquids).
Overall, it’s clear to see that the amount of people using vaping products is still rising, and is likely to continue to rise in the near future. Plus, the number of young people who have never smoked before using e-cigarettes is reassuringly low, just 1.7%, which is great news for the vaping community.
Elf Bar TPD Controversy
While vaping products often find themselves to be the target of scandalous headlines in tabloid newspapers, one particular story dominated the news last month. As you may already be aware, Elf Bar hit the news once again recently following an investigation carried out by the Daily Mail.
Their report found that some Elf Bar 600 and Lost Mary devices were being sold in supermarkets and stores despite exceeding the regulated TPD maximum requirements. In the UK, there are strict guidelines surrounding the sale of disposable vapes, one being that all disposables cannot exceed 2ml capacity with a maximum strength of nicotine at 2%. So, without sugar-coating anything, it’s clear to see that Elf Bar were in breach of these guidelines.
Nevertheless, the damning headlines and emotive language paired with the scaremongering tactics we’ve seen across the tabloids in regards to this breach were pretty scary to say the least. So, this got me thinking, what does this actually mean for the consumer?
After delving into the issue a little more, my worries were swiftly put to rest. Despite the news coverage painting a dangerous picture, it was clear to see that this breach posed no real risk to consumers. In short, customers got more than they bargained for! When paying for an Elf Bar disposable with a 2ml capacity, some users were getting up to 3.6ml of e-liquid in their device, meaning it lasted almost twice as long— Bargain!
But on a serious note, at the end of the day, Elf Bar did make a mistake in breaching these guidelines and they swiftly apologised for the mix up. In fact, they voluntarily removed the affected products from shelves on their own accord and vow to remain more vigilant in future.
Here’s a quick summary of the controversy and what you need to know:
● Initially, Sainsbury's and Asda reportedly banned the Double Apple flavour Lost Mary vape and watermelon-flavoured Elf Bar 600 after tested samples found that there was anaverage of 3.6ml of nicotine-based eliquid.
● UK law states that the amount of nicotine liquid in a vape is limited legally to 2ml with a maximum strength of nicotine at 2%.
● The coverage of this incident in certain newspapers made this seem like a far more dangerous situation than it actually was. Users were simply getting more product for their money, and nobody was harmed.
● Following an investigation by the UK's medical watchdog, Elf Bar was the first to admit that they had 'fallen short in some areas' and proceeded to withdraw all disposables that weren't complying with the regulations.
● Authorities are satisfied with Elf Bar’s actions following the incident and that there was no need for a mandatory recall. Elf Bar confirmed that it was not the subject of any formal recall or withdrawal notice issued by regulators.
Vaping News and Content Roundup
If you’re familiar with our blog content, you know that here at myCigara, we’re constantly working on bringing our customers and readers consistent and high-quality content to help themmake informed decisions. From the latest vaping news, reviews, comparisons and user-guides, we keep our website fully-loaded with just about everything you need to know about all things vaping, and the past few months have been no different.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some recent highlights from our content team, as well as some exciting up-and-coming releases:
● Water-Based Vaping Is Here! - I first learned about water-based vaping last year and delved deep into the technology in my blog. Now, after months of anticipation it’s finally arrived. Innokin have taken the leap by being the first on the scene with the introduction of the Innobar Enviro. While we don’t have them in-store just yet, they’ll be with us soon, and I’m keen to try them out.
● Is Vaping Safe? - This question is thrown around a lot in the vaping community, and with so much research and data being released regularly, it made sense to update our Is Vaping Safe? blog with the latest information. If you haven’t checked it out already, it explores how vaping compares to smoking, if vaping can ever be considered unsafe, and how nicotine can affect your health. Give it a read today and find out!
● Juul Is Back - I never thought I’d see the day when Juul made a comeback, but I’m pleased to be proven wrong. The long-awaited Juul2 device has hit our shelves and I had the pleasure of trying it out for myself. Head over to my Introducing Juul2 blog to find out more about this new pod kit, and stay tuned for our in-depth review and flavour guides in coming weeks.
● Cigara Originals Nic Salts - Following the success of our Cigara Originals E-liquid series, by popular demand, we’ve begun working on a brand new series of Cigara Originals but in a punchy and potent nic salt format. Currently being developed by our in-house mixologists, these nic salts will be hitting our shelves soon in a wide range of great flavours and I’ll be trying them out for myself, so watch this space!
● Heat Not Burn - We’ve explored vaping alternatives within our blog posts a lot lately, and we show no signs of stopping. In the last couple of months I finally got to try out Heat Not Burn technology myself and tested both the IQOS 3 Duo and Ploom X Devices. Be sure to check out my in-depth IQOS Duo 3 review to find out how it went, and stay tuned for my upcoming IQOS Vs Ploom Comparison Blog.
● All Things Coils - As well as focusing on specific brands and products, I’ve also been busy with providing our readers with a wider choice of informational guides. One of the trickiest elements of vaping to get to grips with is coils, and as it took me years to wrap my head around them, I decided to work on some ultimate guides that even beginners can understand. If you’d like to learn more about coils, how they work, and the different types available, check out my blogs: Everything You Need To Know About Vape Coils and Should I Use High or Low Resistance Coils?
Quit Smoking through Vaping with myCigara
At myCigara we exist to make the UK smoke-free. Yet, we are aware of how challenging it can be to quit smoking and to remain motivated throughout your journey. That’s why we try to createan informative and reassuring blog space on our website, where readers can learn the basics, explore their different vaping options, and find out more about specific products through unbiased user-tested reviews.
Our aim is to prioritise our customers and give them the right help tailored to what they need. So, if you have any burning questions or require additional information regarding any topics or products discussed throughout our content, please reach out and get in touch right away.
Alternatively, you can head down to your local myCigara vape store for a chat with our friendly and expert staff who are on-hand to help you.