After years of Hollywood glamour with movie stars such as James Dean and Marlene Dietrich smoking on screen, cigarettes have gone out of fashion. It has been decades since smoking was allowed in theatres or on planes, and cigarettes are barely advertised today.
In April 1970, US President Richard Nixon banned TV cigarette advertising on TV and radio, but Britain had already led the way. 1965 saw cigarette ads removed from UK TV under the Television Act.
Since then, there have been changes to packaging with warnings added to cigarettes, tax hikes to deter smokers, and a rise in the legal age for buying tobacco. Now, tobacco companies have a serious threat from vaping which is seen as far more sociable.
Why do people accept vaping in social situations more than smoking?
Unlike smoking, there is no blanket ban in the UK covering public places. In Britain, the owner of a business can decide whether customers are free to vape on the premises or not.
While the majority of restaurants and pubs might prohibit vaping, there are plenty of vape-friendly spots to visit in the UK. This shows that vaping isn’t treated the same way as smoking, and it is easy to find vape-related products online.
Anyone with internet access can visit this vape shop or a similar one to see what products are available as long as they are over 18. This convenient and modern way to buy vapes is just part of why vaping is seen as socially acceptable, and below are a few more reasons.
Vapes tend to smell nicer
Cigarette smoke lingers in the air and clings to clothes, making them reek. Cigarettes also smell on smokers’ breath, and in general, aren’t pleasant to be around. If you’re considering switching to a more enjoyable experience, you might want to explore options like Marlboro Shuffle kaufen.
Vape pens on the other hand have multiple options for e-liquids, many of which smell of fruit or mint. And vapour is far less likely to stick to your clothes in the way smoke does.
Vaping is less intrusive
10 years ago, one report in The Economist mentioned the possibility of vaping overtaking tobacco sales by 2023. While this hasn’t become a reality, vape manufacturers have become serious challengers partly due to smoking bans and how unpleasant smoke is to be around.
Apart from the smell, vapour is less likely to make a bystander start coughing or irritate their eyes or throat. Cigarette smoke is intrusive whereas vapour dissipates quickly.
Vaping doesn’t leave a mess behind
With trillions of cigarette filters littering the world, smoking is an environmental nightmare. The plastics in cigarette butts are a huge problem, but even ash causes problems for the environment.
Smoked tobacco produces ash which leaches chemicals and metals into the earth. Plus, cigarette ash stinks and is another unpleasant side-product of smoking.
Secondhand smoke is dangerous
While vaping is not without some risks they are far outweighed by the dangers of smoking or being around smokers. In 1994, the British entertainer Roy Castle died from lung cancer. This made big news due to his never having smoked.
Castle’s cancer was attributed to secondhand smoke inhaled in clubs around the country where he worked throughout his career.
Vaping may help someone to quit smoking
Smokers commonly switch to vape pens when they try to quit, and this also helps make them more socially acceptable. There are several ways to quit smoking successfully. And vaping has been proven to help smokers stop.
Telling someone you have switched to vaping because you want to stop smoking is likely to result in encouragement rather than admonishment.
The dangers of smoking are well known
Smoking impacts skin health and causes premature ageing. Unsightly wrinkles and lines are the least of most smokers’ worries though.
Smoking causes numerous ailments including many serious diseases such as cancer. Asthma attacks can be triggered by smoking too.
Anyone smoking risks heart disease, stroke, various cancers, and diabetes. Smoking while pregnant can contribute to premature deliveries and underweight babies too.
Cigarettes cause tooth decay and yellowing
The chemicals in cigarettes damage oral health and can cause gum disease. These chemicals also cause discolouration and tooth decay. Smokers on average will lose about 2.9 teeth per decade if they continue smoking.
Nicotine is also harmful to oral health, but vape juice is available in low and nicotine-free options.
Summary
Many countries are heading toward an outright ban on smoking and cigarette sales. As these bans come closer, more people are likely to switch to vapes and find themselves saving money and feeling more welcome.
There are a dozen reasons why vaping is more socially accepted than smoking. The dangers to your and bystanders’ health and the unpleasant smell of cigarette smoke should be more than enough to consider quitting smoking. And being a social pariah due to smoking is no fun at all.
