Vaping / E-cigarettes
Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping. Vaping devices (referred to as “vapes”) usually contain nicotine, which is the addictive chemical in cigarettes, and allow the user to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.
Vaping is not completely risk free, particularly for people who have never smoked and should not be presented as an appealing activity to the wider non-smoking population. Vapes are useful for reducing harm to adult tobacco smokers, by encouraging smokers to use vapes as an alternative to tobacco and to aid quitting smoking altogether.
There are many different types of e-cigarette, including vape pens, vape bars, pod devices, mods, and cigalikes. They can be rechargeable or disposable. Some vapes are marketed with packaging designs and flavours that could be more appealing to children and young people.
Officially licensed vaping products are tightly regulated through legislation for safety, nicotine strength and ingredients to ensure they meet appropriate UK standards. Shropshire Council’s Trading Standards department is responsible for monitoring shop sales within the Local Authority area.
Many thousands of people in the UK have already stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette. There's evidence that they can be effective.
A 2021 review found people who used e-cigarettes to quit smoking, as well as having expert face-to-face support, can be up to twice as likely to succeed as people who used other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum.
Using an e-cigarette can help you manage your nicotine cravings. To get the best out of it, make sure you're using it as much as you need to and with the right strength of nicotine in your e-liquid.
You will not get the full benefit from vaping unless you stop smoking cigarettes completely.
Getting expert help from your local Stop Smoking Service gives you the best chance of quitting smoking for good.
Find your local Stop Smoking Service
For more information and guidance, visit the NHS website on "using e-cigarettes to stop smoking".
There are different types of e-cigarette, including vape pens, vape bars, pod devices, mods, and cigalikes. They can be rechargeable or disposable.
It's also important to choose the right strength of nicotine in your e-liquid, which will depend on how much you smoke. You can get advice on models and e-liquids from a specialist vape shop.
Find out more about e-cigarettes, e-liquids and vaping to quit smoking on the Better Health website.
For more information and guidance, visit the NHS website on "using e-cigarettes to stop smoking".
In the UK, e-cigarettes are tightly regulated for safety and quality.
Vaping is not completely risk-free, but it poses a small fraction of the risk of smoking cigarettes. The long-term risks of vaping are not yet clear.
E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke.
The liquid and vapour contain some potentially harmful chemicals also found in cigarette smoke, but at a much lower level.
For more information and guidance, visit the NHS website on "using e-cigarettes to stop smoking".
While nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes, most of the harm from smoking comes from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are toxic.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been widely used for many years to help people stop smoking and is a safe treatment.
For more information and guidance, visit the NHS website on "using e-cigarettes to stop smoking".
To learn more about the Children and Young People and Vaping Position Statement and how you can support children and young people and vaping across the borough, click here.