In recent years vaping has become popular with smokers all over the world. While the debate rages on about whether it helps smokers improve their health when they switch from regular cigarettes to E-cigs, that doesn’t change the fact that many people, especially teens, are picking it up as a new habit and not as a tool for quitting cigarettes.
But after decades of educating consumers about the dangers of smoking through teachers, media, and government-funded campaigns, it’s hard to see what draws so many people to this habit. Do people not care about their health? Don’t they believe the evidence presented by public health officials? Maybe the appeal is so strong that people can ignore their reservations and vape anyway.
After talking to a few avid vapers, including a mix of both former smokers and some who did not smoke cigarettes before, I’ve compiled a list of what I see as the main reasons people are taking it up.
Here are the top 6 reasons people start vaping:
1. Alternative to Smoking
Many switch to vaping as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco which produces harmful substances like tar and carbon monoxide. Vaping, using e-cigarettes that heat a liquid (e-liquid) instead of burning tobacco, avoids these toxins. E-liquids come in various nicotine strengths so you can manage your cravings and gradually reduce your nicotine intake, making it a popular choice for those who want to quit smoking.
2. Relaxation/Stress Relief
Vaping is loved by many for its relaxing effects. The nicotine in e-liquids can make you feel calm, but non-nicotine options are also available. The act of vaping—deep inhale and exhale—can reduce stress and make you feel relaxed and chill.
3. Variety of Flavors
Vaping appeals to smokers and non-smokers alike due to its many flavour options. From sweet and fruity to menthol and beyond, the choices are endless. This variety keeps growing as new brands emerge, making vaping a more exciting experience than traditional smoking.
4. Social Aspect
Vaping has created communities all over the world, with meetups at bars, vape shops, and online forums. These communities share tips, show off devices, and exchange gadgets, making it a social activity for like-minded people. Vaping events and branded merchandise add to the social aspect of vaping.
5. New Interest/Hobby
Beyond nicotine consumption, vaping has become a hobby for many. Enthusiasts get into the nitty gritty of devices, coils, and e-liquids to get the best performance and flavour. Some even engage in Cloud Chasing—a competitive activity to produce big vapour clouds—showcasing technical skills and creativity within the vaping community.
6. Cost Savings
Vaping can save you a lot of money compared to smoking traditional cigarettes. How much you save really depends on how much you smoke, but if you replace the time you spend smoking each day with the same amount of time vaping, you’ll save by several tens of percent.
Time for a More Holistic Perspective
While physicians and regulators continue their battle against smoking, perhaps it’s time to look at this issue with a fresh set of eyes. If we agree that vaping is healthier than smoking, as many health experts assert, then maybe our efforts to demonize vaping in an attempt to dissuade teens from e-cigarettes are causing smokers to believe they don’t have much to gain from trading in their cigarettes for vapes.
We cannot tell some consumers that we encourage them to give up smoking for vaping from one side of our mouths while telling other consumers that vapes are poison from the other.
People vape for a variety of reasons, some of which benefit their quality of life and even their mental well-being. Convincing them to give up the habit may be too much to ask, and counterproductive when we are trying to get smokers to switch to vaping at the same time. It’s a worthwhile discussion that health professionals and policymakers need to have.
