Outrage as ecigs to be banned from NHS Scotland property

In a move which has caught many within the vaping community by surprise, it was this evening announced that NHS Scotland is to ban the use of electronic cigarettes on all NHS Scotland property. This despite the fact that electronic cigarettes are seen by many as a "healthier option" to their tobacco counterparts and indeed for many people this form the crux of their battle against tobacco addiction.

In what many see as state dictatorship yet again, this move comes despite the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes and evidence to suggest they are a useful element in the fight against tobacco addiction. While electronic cigarettes cannot be sold as medical devices, or indeed smoke cessation options, many people have already made their own minds up.

Has the vaping industry finally turned the corner?

There are so many rumours, untruths and speculation regarding the vaping industry that is difficult to know exactly what is going on and what we can expect in the future. This is a business sector which has risen from the ashes at the turn-of-the-century to become a multibillion dollar sector in 2015. Despite the fact that turnover in the US is expected to top $2 billion during the next 12 months there is still some concern as to whether the industry is here to stay and whether it has finally turned the corner.

That may sound a little bizarre when you bear in mind the money invested in the electronic cigarette industry but this is not a normal sector, it attracts more than its fair share of critics and politicians are still lobbying against the industry.

Is press coverage of electronic cigarettes fair?

Over the last few days we have seen a prominent medical professor talking in public about the difficulties of obtaining press coverage for positive research into electronic cigarette use. While this will surprise many people, there has been a suspicion for some time within the vaping community that the wider press are only interested in scare stories which grab the headlines. Is this a fair summary of the situation to date or are both parties being a little blinkered?

Scare stories sell!

The simple fact is that the more sensational the headline the more chance it will be noticed and the more sales of newspapers and more viewers of news related websites. That is the simple fact today, good news very rarely captures the headlines and even a glimpse at the television news seems to show everything with a doom and gloom slant. However, it will be interesting to see how the mass media react to accusations of unbalanced reporting of the electronic cigarette industry and indeed whether we see any changes in the short, medium and long term.

Is it fair to consider taxing electronic cigarettes?

The subject of taxation and electronic cigarettes will certainly become a hot topic in the months and years ahead as governments around the world look to replace lost tobacco tax income. When the industry was relatively obscure and governments around the world were raising enormous amounts of money through tobacco tax there seemed to be no concerns. However, with electronic cigarettes now eating into tobacco use right across the world it seems that the authorities are now looking to tax electronic cigarettes.

There are obviously a number of factors to take into consideration when looking at the potential taxing of electronic cigarettes which we will cover below.

US states looking to ban or tax electronic cigarettes

The situation in the US electronic cigarette market is becoming critical as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) continues to debate and consider the regulatory structure of the future. Even though the FDA’s initial investigation period ended some time ago the Administration is apparently still in consultation with the industry. This has left an enormous information vacuum in the US which many state authorities are very keen to fill. The question in the minds of many US politicians seems to be, should we ban electronic cigarettes or just tax them?

Is this opportunism at its extreme?

It is ironic that many of the states in the US looking to either ban or tax electronic cigarettes have historically and continue to benefit from tobacco taxes. There is no doubt that the ongoing popularity of electronic cigarettes is eating into their tobacco tax income stream hence why many are trying to introduce an electronic cigarette tax. If the FDA had taken control of the situation, with the rise of electronic cigarettes grabbing headlines for a decade now, then we would not be in this situation today.

How did the tobacco companies miss the rise in vaping?

At the start of the century vaping was something of a niche market and one which you did not readily hear of in the worldwide media. While many people recognised the potential at a very early stage it is worth noting that the first basic electronic cigarette appeared back in the 1960s. When you look at the industry today we hear of expectations that the US alone will turn over $2 billion in 2015 and the European market is showing significant growth. So, how did the tobacco companies miss the rise in vaping?

 

Dismissed as a niche market

There is no doubt that the vaping industry was dismissed in the very early stage as a new industry which would never hit the mass market. It is well-known that the tobacco companies and regulators looked at the industry at the turn-of-the-century decided it was not a threat. Indeed, there is evidence to show that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the US attempted to ban electronic cigarettes out right only to have this move overturned by the High Court.

OK Double EVOD Starter Kit + 5 bottles of e liquid

As demand continues to grow for new vaping devices we are pleased to announce the launch of our OK Double EVOD Starter Kit + 5 bottles of e liquid which is perfect for experienced vapers or those trying for the first time. As you can see from the picture you get two clearomisers, two batteries, a USB charger and five heating coils to extend the life of your electronic cigarette.

Over the last few months demand for EVOD Starter Kits has grown significantly and we therefore thought it was perfect timing to launch your own branded product. As an incentive in the early days we will be providing 5 bottles of OK e liquid free of charge which itself is a saving of around £25. The comparative rate per tobacco cigarette is just pennies and already the feedback from existing and new customers has been very encouraging.