Two Thirds Of Ex-Smokers In Danger Of Returning To Cigarettes
In the wake of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, an Evapo survey has concluded that two thirds of former smokers could likely be returning to cigarettes.
Leading vape retailer Evapo recently conducted a survey of 1,134 of their customers in an attempt to discover whether the regulation of vape flavours would impact their stop-smoking journeys.
The survey not only showed that two third of vapers were considering returning to cigarettes, but also that a resounding 81% of respondents believed flavour restrictions would negatively impact people’s switch from smoking to vaping.
What vape flavours are being banned?
The recently passed Tobacco and Vapes Bill proposes to ‘regulate flavours and contents of vapes’, in the wake of the youth vaping scandal.
The ASH 2023 report Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain found that 60% of youth vapers use fruit flavours, while a further 17% opt for sweet flavours such as chocolate or candy.
The aim is to make vaping less appealing to children through the regulation of flavours, amongst other things.
Although the full extent of these restrictions remains unclear, there is still an opportunity for revisions. Further consultations will be held, enabling those against the bill to demonstrate the adverse effects that such a ban could potentially have.
The government does recognise the potential in vape flavours for those who have quit smoking. They state: “To avoid unintended consequences on adult smoking rates, the scope of restrictions will need to be carefully considered.”
How many adults use fruit vape flavours?
The Evapo survey showed that 71% over the age of 45 use fruit and dessert vape flavours, suggesting that regulating and banning these sorts of flavours will not simply affect children.
Only 17.3% of customers were tobacco and menthol vapers, indicating that making these flavours the prominent vaping flavours in the UK would prove to be largely unpopular among adult e-cigarette users.
Vaping as Smoking Cessation
The 2022 Cochrane review concluded: “…people are more likely to stop smoking for at least six months using nicotine e-cigarettes, than using nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and gums. Evidence also suggested that nicotine e-cigarettes led to higher quit rates than e-cigarettes without nicotine, or no stop smoking intervention.”
It is also stated that people are twice as likely to quit smoking using a vape containing nicotine than any other nicotine replacement product.
The Evapo findings back this up.
88% of survey respondents had initially been smokers before transitioning to vaping, and 93% of these people were shown to have either quit smoking in its entirety or reduced their tobacco consumption.
75% of smokers quit altogether, once again highlighting the usefulness of e-cigarettes as tools for smoking cessation.
How many vapers are returning to cigarettes?
The Evapo survey’s stats indicate two thirds of respondents are at risk of returning to cigarettes because of the flavour regulations.
31% of respondents to the Evapo survey considered it likely to resume or increase their smoking habits should their favourite vape flavours be banned, while another 30% were somewhat considering returning to cigarettes.
Evapo’s CEO Andrej Kuttruf said: ‘‘We recognise the Government’s concerns regarding youth vaping and are committed to responsible practices that protect minors. However, it’s crucial that these proposed measures do not inadvertently hinder adults’ access to safer alternatives to tobacco.
“Our survey clearly shows that a vast majority of vapers rely on a variety of flavours to remain smoke-free. We urge policymakers to consider these insights as they debate the upcoming Tobacco & Vapes Bill and to incorporate Public Health England’s view that vaping is 95% less harmful than tobacco.
“Evapo will continue to call for a common-sense, evidence-based licensing regime that will protect children, help smokers quit, and stop the criminals, without compromising the progress and health benefits experienced by adult smokers who have chosen vaping as a pathway to quit smoking.
“Evapo remains dedicated to contributing positively to the community’s well-being and to the global movement towards a smoke-free future.”
Summary
Evapo’s study comes at the right time, before further consultation, consideration and research goes into the proposed ideas in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The survey highlights just how difficult it is going to be to successfully regulate vape flavours, in which fruit and dessert flavours are just as popular with adults as they are with children.
What’s astonishing is how many vapers are considering returning to cigarettes because of the banning of some flavours.
Although the Tobacco and Vapes Bill clearly understands that vaping itself is a great smoking cessation tool, it likely underestimated the importance of vape flavours to this quit-smoking model.
Read more about the proposals and effects of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.