Vape pens, also known by various names such as e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine systems (ENDS), alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS), e-hookah, vaporisers, et cetera, are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale the aerosol. Unlike traditional cigarettes, people smoke aerosol, which has flavouring substances and other chemicals. Vaporisers come in various shapes and sizes. Thus, it can come in shapes that are very similar to cigarettes, USBs, pens, cigars, et cetera.
One of the most famous vape brands is Vaporesso in Australia. Australia is one of the countries which has made vape smoking legal. However, it comes with a catch. Recently, the Australian government made a few changes to the vape laws. According to the recently amended law, it is necessary to have a prescription to buy e-cigarettes. This law was immediately implemented due to the increased use and influence of vaping on the younger generation of the country.
Vaping vs Smoking
Researchers are still searching about the health effects of vaping. It must be noted that there are many reports published regarding the comparison. Some say that both vaping and smoking are equally harmful, while some say that vaping is less harmful than smoking. However, primary researchers have pointed out that vaping is indeed less harmful, although not safe. According to leading research, an e-cigarette contains fewer chemicals than a regular cigarette. However, there have been cases of lung infections and deaths due to vaping. To dive deep into the reasoning behind such cases, such fatalities are caused due to modified vaping devices, generally sold on the black market. It is modified to contain THC substances and vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent used in THC related vaping devices. It must be noted that both smoking and vaping are injurious to health.
E-cigarette laws around the globe
Vaping is comparatively a modern concept than other modes of smoking such as cigarettes and shisha. The laws related to it are not formalised in many countries and are still evolving. Different countries have different laws for it. While the USA considers e-cigarettes to be a tobacco product because of the presence of nicotine, Russia does not even regard them in the same category. The Gambia has imposed a complete ban on e-cigarettes. Almost all of Europe has legalised vaping devices in private spaces. In Australia and Japan, vaping, with specified conditions, is legal, but the sale of nicotine is not allowed. Countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, and Seychelles have made it legal to use them but illegal to sell them. As one can see, there is no stringent law related to it in all the countries. Laws are different depending upon how the state perceives the outlook of vaping in its local communities.
Usage of vaping devices in Australia
As per statistics released by the government, the market for brands such as Vaporesso in Australia rose from 9% to 11% between 2016 and 2019. The sale of e-cigarettes saw a massive jump of roughly $12 million from 2018 to 2019. Vaping has become a method to ‘quit’ smoking. The irony is that even vaping has nicotine which is derived from tobacco.
Australian teens are most attracted to vaping among all the other age groups. The age group of 18-25 is the leading buyer group of vape products. It was also seen that with an increase in age, people started using fewer of these devices. Many non-addicted Australian smokers have switched to nicotine e-cigarettes because it is cheap and convenient. Moreover, people have a perception that vaping is not as harmful as cigarettes, and people see it to be a better choice. The recent law has made importing vaping from foreign websites illegal without a prescription. This move was welcomed by many health organisations. As the young generation of Australia is getting hooked on nicotine, the aim is to reduce the influence of vaping on teenagers so that they become aware and concerned about the effects of vaping.
