Dare to Share

Don’t panic, I haven’t gone mad - I don’t mean the kind that causes millions of deaths each year. I’m talking about the electronic version that doesn’t contain any tobacco and claim, by their manufacturers, to be safe.

When I heard of these newfangled things I had to go on the search to see what they were all about. As it turns out they look like cigarettes (well the micro versions do - the classic version just look like you’re smoking a pencil), they taste like cigarettes, they contain nicotine and even give off smoke (which is actually condensation that evaporates into the air within seconds). Hell, they even have a little led light at the end that glows as you chug away.

Now, does this mean you can now light up (or rather turn on) your electronic cigarette in a public place in the UK - well, yes you should be able to to but I also wouldn’t want to try to explain that to the doorman who wants to kick you out of the club.

How do Electronic Cigarettes work? If you use the rechargeable version then you plug it in, charge it up and then insert a cartridge and then inhale to start the mechanism. The cartridges come in various flavours and strengths. You’ll still be getting your nicotine rush, if you choose that cartridge, but you can also get one that contains no nicotine. Flavours include tabacco, menthol, cherry and more. The thing that I do like about them is that because they’re not on fire then you can simply have a couple of puffs and then put it back in your pocket.

What do Electronic Cigarettes cost in comparison to normal fags? You can buy disposable versions which the manufacturer, Gamucci¹, say lasts about 600 puffs, the equivalent of 40 standard cigarettes - I’ve found these for sale on eBay for £11.99 each, so about the same price as 2 packets of real fags. If you go down the rechargeable route then it’s £34.99 which includes 5 cartridges, the equivalent of 20 cigarettes for each cartridge. Subsequent cartridges cost around £6.99 for 5. So yes, they would work out a lot cheaper than your standard smoking habit.

Before you get too excited thinking this is the completely safe alternative to fags then I’m still not sure - I spent a bit of time hunting around for information on the safety aspect of them and while the manufacturers say they are safe, the World Health Organization is still unsure saying, “If the marketers of the electronic cigarette want to help smokers quit, then they need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analyses and operate within the proper regulatory framework”

Until more trials and clinical studies have been performed then maybe it’s best to just to not put anything in your mouth, other than food and water, but if you really must then “be cool” with an electronic cigarette as they can’t be anywhere near as bad for you as real ciggies… but who knows?