Survey supports e-cigs

A survey carried out in the UK has revealed that ex-smokers say switching to vaping is the most effective way to give up.

The research, involving 7,464 former smokers and commissioned by British American Tobacco on behalf of its electronic-cigarette brand Vype, showed that from their own experiences of giving up, 33 percent of former smokers found that using e-cigarettes was the most effective method.

‘However, the research found that there is still a lack of public awareness around e-cigarettes,’ BAT said in a press note. ‘Amongst the smokers surveyed, only 52 percent said they viewed vaping as less harmful than smoking. And only a quarter of the general public said they would recommend vaping products to a smoker looking to quit.’

Last month, Public Health England announced that its annual Stoptober campaign would, for the first time, back e-cigarettes.

In 2015 the agency published an independent review on e-cigarettes in which it concluded that, based on best estimates, the use of these devices was about 95 percent less harmful than is smoking.

Today’s latest research supports many publicly-available studies, including one from the British Psychological Society indicating that vaping might provide support or an alternative for smokers who want to quit smoking.

“We welcome the news that for the first time the government is backing vaping in its Stoptober campaign especially given that independent organisations, such as Public Health England, have previously stated that e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes,” said Nigel Hardy, head of the UK Vaping Business at BAT.

“For many years we have highlighted that vaping can be an alternative to smoking which is why we have, and continue to, invest heavily in innovative next generation products. With our Vype e-cigarette brand, we are leading the vapor market in the UK, offering consumers a range of the highest quality products.

“However, our research shows there is a knowledge gap which could be holding back the chances of more people stopping smoking. We need better consumer education on this topic and call on the UK government to consider some of the restrictions on e-cigarette advertising. Appropriate marketing can help to ensure smokers have more visibility of vaping products as an alternative to smoking.”

Further findings from the study were said to include:

• 61 percent of the general public believe vaping is socially acceptable, but this rises to 68 percent amongst 18-to-34-year-olds.
• When asked about Stoptober 2017, 26 percent of smokers who were aware of the campaign said they planned to try and quit. 34 percent of smokers were intending to use, or were aware of others planning to use, e-cigarettes to try and quit as part of the campaign. This was higher than for other nicotine products such as nicotine patches, nicotine chewing gum and nicotine inhalers.
• When asked about Stoptober 2017, 47 percent of smokers recalled the message that “stop smoking for 28 days and you are five times more likely to quit for good”; 11 percent recalled the message that e-cigarettes were a great way to combat nicotine cravings; nine percent recalled the message that the NHS supports e-cigs as a way to stop; and eight percent recalled that they carried a fraction of the risk of smoking.