What’s up with these vaping and flavored vape bans? What alternatives can we use instead? In this article, we are going to talk about it. Read on.
But first, let’s know what is vaping exactly and the impact it has on all of us.
THE WORLD OF VAPING
Vaping has been all the rage in the past few years. Originally, vaping was first targeted as a healthier and less harmful alternative to smoking. It doesn’t involve burning tobacco, which means that it doesn’t produce smoke, tar, or ash, and reduces the risk of many smoking-related diseases.
Its social impact is very much visible in small and large communities. Vaping has become a social activity and a way for people to connect with each other. There are now many vape shops and lounges where people can gather, socialize, and try out new flavors and devices.
Adding to its appeal is the variety of flavors. Vape juice comes in a huge variety of flavors and strengths, allowing vapers to choose their preferred flavor and nicotine level. This makes vaping more enjoyable for many people.
Vaping is easy and convenient, especially compared to smoking. There are no ashes to worry about, and the devices are easy to carry and use on the go. Vaping devices can be customized to suit individual preferences, allowing people to choose the type of battery, tank, and coil they use. This customization can make vaping more enjoyable for many people as they can personalize their vaping experience.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S A CATCH! WE HAVE RULES TO FOLLOW!
Despite the wonders of vape, they are very much at the forefront of tobacco policies and regulations all over the world especially flavored vapes. Many institutions blame the hold it has on impressionable adolescents to take up smoking due to its youthful appeal. Pretty ironic if you ask us since vaping is safer.
As of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, several countries have implemented bans or restrictions on flavored vaping products. Here are some examples:
- Brazil: In 2021, Brazil banned the sale and use of flavored e-cigarettes.
- India: In 2019, India banned the production, import, and sale of e-cigarettes, including flavored products.
- Singapore: In 2020, Singapore banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, including menthol.
- Thailand: In 2014, Thailand banned the import, export, and sale of e-cigarettes, including flavored products.
- Turkey: In 2019, Turkey banned the production, import, and sale of e-cigarettes, including flavored products.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): In 2019, the UAE banned the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, including flavored products.
- United States: In January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented a policy banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, with the exception of tobacco and menthol flavors, in retail stores. The ban also includes online sales to minors.
- Canada: In May 2021, the Canadian government proposed regulations to ban the sale of most flavored vaping products, with the exception of tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors. The regulations have not yet been finalized.
- United Kingdom: The UK implemented a ban on the sale of flavored vaping products in May 2020, with the exception of tobacco and menthol flavors.
Take note that these regulations may have changed since my knowledge cutoff date, and there may be additional countries that have implemented bans or restrictions on flavored vaping products.
BUT DON’T WORRY, WE HAVE OUR SILVER LINING
To combat this, tobacco companies have pivoted and turned to diversification and innovation. Many tobacco companies have diversified their product lines to include other flavored delivery systems, such as flavored cigarette products and flavored nicotine gums. This allows them to continue to provide their customers with flavored products even if flavored vaping is banned.
Some tobacco companies have also invested in developing new products that are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, such as heating systems or electronic nicotine delivery systems with flavors that don’t produce aerosols.
Here’s a list of examples:
- Flavored Cigarettes – flavored herbal or traditional tobacco cigarettes
- Flavored Cigars – a smaller version of the flavored cigarettes
- Flavored Shisha – tobacco or herbs that is traditionally flavored with dried fruit or molasses sugar. Wood, coal, or charcoal is burned in the shisha pipe to heat the tobacco and create the smoke.
- Flavored Chew – a type of smokeless tobacco product that is placed between the cheek and lower gum to draw out its flavor. Some users chew it, while others do not. It consists of coarsely chopped aged tobacco that is flavored and often sweetened; it is not ground fine like dipping tobacco. Unwanted juices are then spat out.
- Flavored Pipe Tobacco – aromatic blends represent the archetypal pipe tobacco. They are usually notes of vanilla, chocolate, cherry, or whiskey which has been long enjoyed by the sophisticates who love pipe tobacco.
- Flavored Nicotine Gum – a flavored chewing gum containing a small dose of short-acting nicotine.
- Flavored Nicotine Pouches – a pouch placed between the upper lip and gum and leaves it there while the nicotine and flavor are released. Nicotine pouches are described as either similar to or a tobacco-free version of snus.
- Flavored Snus – a form of moist powdered tobacco with flavor, typically held in the mouth between the lips and gums.
- Flavored heated cigarette sticks – a type of tobacco product that heats tobacco rather than burns them. These sticks are inserted into a special device called a heat-not-burn (HNB) device and heated, releasing a flavored vapor. The user then inhales the flavored vapor. The flavor of the stick can vary depending on the brand and can range from traditional tobacco to fruit and menthol flavors. Flavored heated cigarette sticks are designed to be used with a special device called a heat-not-burn tobacco product device. These devices are usually sold separately and are designed to heat the flavored sticks to a specific temperature range where they release nicotine and flavor without burning or producing smoke. Some popular brands of these devices include IQOS and Glo.
THE PERFECT ALL-ROUNDER
Because of all these bans for flavored vapes, your best bet is actually to get flavored filter tips. Filter tips such as FiltSe is a new type of tobacco product accessory, which provides filtration (filtering tar, tobacco oil, and condensate) and external flavoring, cooling, and sweetening to reduce the hazardous substances of cigarettes and vaping products, thus enhancing the smoking and vaping experience.
With a plastic or silicone adapter, the flavor stick can be used with the king, slim, super slim-sized cigarettes, e-vapes, pipes, heated tobacco products, marijuana, and RYO cigarettes. This is actually a much more practical way to satisfy your flavor cravings.
If you are an avid vaper but flavored vapes are inconvenient for you geographically then FiltSe flavored filter tips are the ultimate solution. You can work with whatever product you have and just attach FiltSe to add a boost of flavor.
WITH THAT BEING SAID,
The perfect flavored vape alternative is very much accessible with the availability of these alternatives all over the world. Yes, some of them are all subject to their own regulations but there will always be something, just even one of these mentioned flavored vape alternatives, that will be legal in your area. Don’t give up because there will always be a way to get your flavor needs to be met.
For more information, check out the many FiltSe flavors to try out. Check the flavors here for more details.