Smokers around the world are now faced with a new smoke-free option that offers the nicotine of cigarettes without the tar and other chemicals found in smoke. This new option, known as electronic cigarettes, provides smokers with an alternative that is, according to Public Health England‘s e-cigarette evidence review, likely 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
While there’s a growing body of science-based evidence to support Public Health England’s stance on e-cigarettes as they compare to cigarettes, there are still smokers that are unaware of the potential benefits of switching to vaping. For those that are aware, the benefits aren’t limited to health, as numerous ex-smokers who have switched to vaping have found vaping to be less expensive.
Regardless of what science has to say about vaping, there are many areas around the world where vaping still faces hurdles in the form of restrictions and regulations. Australia vape enthusiasts, in some cases, may find it difficult to obtain e-cigarettes and e-liquids, particularly those that contain nicotine, in local stores. But overseas vape companies have been quick to fill the void by providing vapers access to nicotine vaping products through online stores. Vaper Empire, a vape company that has been in business serving Australian customers since 2012, is one such company.
In an effort to explain to Australians how they can easily buy these products online, Vaper Empire released an infographic which covers the details of ordering nicotine e-cigs and e-liquid online. According to their research, adult Australians need only to follow some relatively simple rules when ordering nicotine vaping products online. These rules include:
- Ordering internationally from vape shops like Vaper Empire.
- Limiting orders to no more than 3-months’ worth of supplies.
- Buying only for personal use, never resale.
By following these rules, Australians can access a world of vaping products from their homes by simply shopping online.
In some areas of the world, it remains more difficult than this. So while Australians can buy these products online, there are still those in the world that can’t as legislation prohibiting access to such products remains in place.
It would appear as if, at least in some cases, this is an example of technology moving faster than legislation. As legislation takes time to be proposed and enacted, vaping technology is already here.
In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only recently moved to approve the sale of IQOS, a heat-not-burn device that offers a similar, yet different, smoke-free experience as electronic cigarettes. Meanwhile, the device has been available in a number of countries, which shows how much of a delay can exist when it comes to introducing new technology to market depending on the locale.
Just how long has IQOS been on the market? It was first released in Japan and Italy in 2014. As of 2019, it has received FDA approval to be sold in marketed in the United States.
Last year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures showing that smoking rates had actually risen in Australia for the first time in years, which is perhaps indicative of a potential benefit to easing restrictions on vaping products within the country. Meanwhile, there are countries where restrictions on such products are even more intense, such as Singapore.
In Singapore, it is illegal to use e-cigarettes. It’s also illegal to sell them. Infractions are punishable by fines up to $1,500 (US).
Interestingly, a number of countries have made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes, but legal to use them, placing those who use them in a curious position.
While the debate over the health implications of vaping continues to be researched and argued, the reality of the underlying technology in use in modern e-cigarettes is that it has been around for years. What exactly science will conclude on the matter remains to be seen.
