Disposable guns have become a fad, not least among young people. At the same time, smoking is declining sharply in the same group.
"We need to keep a cool head when it comes to disposable models. This is what happens when cigarettes as a product disappear from the market." says Clive Bates, international consultant on sustainability and harm reduction issues.
Vejpkollen reports from the E-cigarette summit 2022 in London. Updated May 2023.
Reporter: Stefan Mathisson
Disposable models, disposables. You can't walk many meters on a street today without passing a shop selling them. High nicotine content e-cigarettes and low power that work for a day or two before they have to be thrown away. Simple, appealing and yes, quite tasty. Disposable vapes represent the latest expression of the disruptive technology that for a decade has challenged cigarettes as the cool and hip way to use nicotine.
"These are very competitive and convenient products that are flooding the market. Together with the more advanced models, they are displacing cigarettes. Before long, we are unlikely to see many smokers under 25. So while it's messy and causes a lot of concern, it's not causing much harm. Quite the opposite," says Clive Bates when Vejpkollen meets him during E-cigarette summit London, 2022.
Sharp increase among young people
The proportion of young people who vejpar has so far been relatively small. However, in recent years, since disposable models entered the market, the share has increased significantly. This applies to the UK, Sweden and the rest of Europe.
"We see two clear patterns here." says Clive Bates. "On the one hand, we see sporadic use. It's about young people puffing at parties, playing games, blowing rings and so on. It's quite a large group, with typical teenage behavior that will pass when they get older"
Smoking is being outcompeted
According to Clive Bates we should not worry too much about the occasional party1TP8. Instead, we should focus on regular use. That's where things happen that have real health consequences," he says.
"Here we have the group of young people who, for various reasons, either psychological, recreational or more hedonistic, like to use nicotine. This is the group where the proportion of smokers has traditionally been high. Here, vejp is replacing cigarette smoking. And this is very important for the future, especially for health," he says.
Authorities encourage vejpning
In the United Kingdom encourages the authorities actively encouraging the country's 6.6 million smokers to either quit completely or switch to e-cigarettes, a significantly less dangerous way of consuming nicotine. Since 2011, the proportion of smokers in the country has decreased from 20 percent to 14 percent. There are currently 4 million vejps in the UK and according to the Public Health Agency latest report e-cigarettes have played a major role in the decline in smoking rates.
"Smoking is disappearing one generation at a time. We don't see many smokers among those under 25 today. That generation will vejpa or switch from smoking to e-cigarettes before they turn 35. Very few who are under 30 today will die from a smoking-related disease." says Clive Bates.
More difficult for older people to switch
But it will take longer for the older generations, he fears. Knowledge about the relative risks of smoking and vejpa nicotine is very low, in particular among older smokers.
"For someone who has smoked for decades, and is a bit more technophobic, it is of course more difficult to switch to e-cigarettes. But if we from all sides - authorities, media and health organizations - join forces and highlight the value of harm reduction, then the transition would be faster as well." Clive Bates.
"Inevitable regardless of resistance"
According to Clive Bates ultimately, it does not matter how much opposition there is to e-cigarettes and other safer nicotine products. Whether disposable or otherwise, market developments will force a change in legislation and attitudes in general.
"We see a technological disruption that is both attractive and more logical than cigarettes. People want to use nicotine, but they don't want cancer, cardiovascular disease and everything else that smoking brings. They are opting out of cigarettes for something better, just as people are opting out of fossil fuels for renewable energy sources. It is consumers who choose and businesses who adapt. No one can stop this trend in the long run, but we can facilitate it and make sure it happens faster than today"
Western countries have a great responsibility
Clive Bates believes that countries in Europe and the US have a great responsibility.
"If we manage to regulate these products properly and make them as safe as possible, we can lead the way. Developments in other countries like China and India will follow suit. It is inevitable" says Clive Bates to Vejpkollen.
In March 2023, the UK government announced that it is investing 3 million pounds to curb the sale of disposable models to minors. At the same time, it aims to distribute free e-cigarettes to one million UK smokers - with the goal of reducing smoking in the UK.
Watch Vejpkollen's full interview with Clive Bates at the E-cigarette summit here:
