Vaping Restrictions before and after Europe

Like it or not we have left Europe. I’m not gonna get into that as it’s a touchy subject but because of this it could mean that the laws we currently adhere to as part of the EU could be readdressed. You maybe thinking wait what are you talking about so here is the short version of events that led to the TPD implementation in 2016.

The TPD

When vaping was establishing itself in the early parts of 2010 to 2020 there were various MPs that were dead against it in the UK. Linda McAvan, the Labour MEP for instance made several attempts to put a stop to the growth of these life saving products but thanks to passionate vapers rallying together and some luck, these attempts never amounted to anything. Vapers were worried very much like those in the United States right now. It seemed like all authorities were against electronic cigarettes.

Roll on a few more years and it became clear there needed to be some regulation to move on. Unfortunately as is often the case and with little to no real consultation with those in the know vaping was lumped together with combustible tobacco as far as EU law was concerned and the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) was born. Between 2016 and the May 2017 cut off point all shops had to sell all non compliant products.

During this time The Royal College of Physicians recommended vaping as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes and stated it is at least 95% safer than smoking.

This ended up helping the TRPR which is the Tobacco and related Products Regulations essentially a slightly less harsh version of the TPD for Great Britain and Northern Ireland come to pass and is why we have the following laws.

1. Nicotine containing liquid can only be sold in a 10ml bottle
2. If a tank is for nicotine consumption it must be 2ml max capacity at point of sale.
3. No advertising
4. Nicotine can have a max strength of 2% ie 20mg

There are many other laws but the 4 above are the main ones that do not make any sense.

Now you know the history. Why is it a problem?

10ml bottles in 2014 when the laws were being discussed lasted the average vaper about a week. The devices used were less efficient, we had higher nicotine so the consumption of liquid was minimal. If there is virtually no vapour then the liquid is being evaporated slowly and the sub tank was not invented yet.

After the invent of the sub tank consumption went through the roof. People lowered their nicotine level as it became clear it was too harsh when you are using much more liquid per draw. It became normal for people to use 10ml in a day this has led to huge amounts of plastic being wasted.

As nicotine free liquid is not covered by the laws the industry invented a short filled bottle that you could after purchase add a high nicotine shot, the end result being a larger bottle of nicotine containing liquid. But that’s led to more waste and users handling high strength nicotine and cutting themselves etc getting into bottles

Tanks being 2ml are not practical as some people have to fill them several times a day with some designs only holding a few draws of liquid before the level is too low to use.

Advertising is a problem as it hinders the ability to reach more smokers and spread the word that vaping is saving lives

The maximum level of nicotine is making it harder for really heavy smokers to find something strong enough to satisfy them.

Now we have left the EU.What can we do ?

We need to let our MP know that it’s a problem. If we say nothing they do not know. They are also led by votes, if you tell them you will support them at the next election as well as thousands of other vapers if they support our cause, they will listen.

Contact your MP by searching here for their name and email address.

https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons

You will probably get a generic response BUT the more they see this effects their constituents the more it is in their minds and the likelihood they bring it up when discussing policies.

Things to remember when writing to your MP.

1. Don’t rant simply tell them your story and how vaping has impacted your life.
2. Most vapers I have met have a life changing reason why they vape and these laws make it harder for people to switch.
3. Why it’s important to have bigger bottle sizes and bigger tank capacity.
4. Try and make the reasons you give ways your suggestions will help many people. Not “I can’t be arsed with filling every 5 minutes”
   More like “thousands of empty small bottles going to waste. We can have more than one serving of many things why not vaping”

If you are interested in this subject and want to dig deeper I highly recommend you watch this Webinar from The New Nicotine Alliance called Can consumers escape EU Restrictions

Vaping reduces the chance of catching Coronavirus.

The “unprecedented” times of the COVID 19 era are presenting many questions and very few answers for vapers and smokers. The last thing we need is to make life more difficult or to put ourselves in more danger. But as an industry that is exactly what we are seeing. Countless articles spreading rumours that vaping causes corona virus. This has led to many people who were perfectly happy vaping turning back to deadly traditional cigarettes stating one or a few of the following.

• If I’m more likely to catch COVID vaping then I’ll smoke.
• These are stressful times. A cigarette will solve it
• They can’t or do not want to risk going to buy vape products.

The Truth about Vaping & Coronavirus

A regular virus gets into the body by infecting cells and then multiplying those through the body. Coronavirus or specifically COVID 19 gets in and attaches to healthy cells especially in the lungs and becomes dominant eventually killing healthy cells.

That being said we need to look at smoking and vaping and their effects on the lungs.

The main difference is combustion and chemicals. Here is an image showing the main ingredients of E-Liquid which is used to fill a vape compared with traditional burnt tobacco.

The Royal College of Physicians London have reported that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

The RCP’s 2016 report Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction[6] underlined that people smoke because they are addicted to nicotine, but are harmed by the other constituents of tobacco smoke, and that provision of the nicotine without the other harmful components can prevent most of the harm from smoking. The report noted that the hazard to health arising from long-term vapour inhalation was unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco.

Nicotine is not tobacco.

Nicotine should be respected but not feared like tobacco. If you are vaping and it’s not satisfying your cravings then up the strength of your nicotine for those stressful times. Going back to smoking the chemicals is a double whammy of harm to your lungs.

Vaping has been proven to be far safer than smoking because it contains none of the harmful cancer causing chemicals found in smoking cigarettes.

Image from Cancer Research UK

The end result of these chemicals in a COVID situation mean smokers have far more damage to their lungs than someone who uses vaping products. The smokers lungs are then not strong enough to fight the virus.

It goes without saying that without a doubt the best thing for any person to do is not smoke or vape. This gives us the best chance at healthy lungs but anyone who has smoked will tell you that is easier said than done and during a worldwide pandemic may not be your chosen time to give up nicotine.

To address the 3 statements from the beginning of the blog.

1. If I’m more likely to catch COVID vaping then I’ll smoke – Vaping is a far safer alternative
2. These are stressful times. A cigarette will solve it – Up your nicotine strength.
3. They can’t or do not want to risk going to buy vape products – There are many great local and online stores delivering vaping supplies

If you have any questions or want to comment on this article please do otherwise feel free to contact us on social media or the usual channels.

What is the Best Vape Coil?

Not entirely happy with your tank ?

Have you tried a different coil?

Most of the tanks on the market have at least 2 or more coils to choose from that can change the performance.

Usually a person will love one and dislike the others.

What do the different coils do ?

As with everything in vaping it’s a case of give and take.

You can have more flavour but you will have less battery life and use more liquid.

You can have more battery life and use a bit less liquid but the flavour may not be as good

Usually there is a coil in the middle with a balance of both or it’s a case of choosing which suits your situation.

A Bit more Detail & Examples

I’ll use the popular Smok V8 Baby Coils as an example.

All of these V8 baby coils are Direct to Lung coils designed for Flavour & Vapour. Each has its perceived strengths and weaknesses.

The 0.4ohm Q2 core is often chosen for the best battery life, good airflow and a balance of flavour and vapour production.

The T8, T12, Strip and Mesh are more recognised for flavour and a warmer vape as the can be run at a higher wattage than the Q4 but as a result more liquid will be used and more battery life.

Why this happens

The higher the resistance or the ohm’s the easier it is for the battery to power that coil so the battery lasts longer

This is why the 0.4 ohm Q2 is best for battery life

The T8, T12 and Mesh coils are 0.15ohm which is very low resistance or ohm’s therefore it will drain the battery more

We will get into Ohms law in a later blog for those interested in the mathematical side.

The lower resistance will also mean it needs more power to get hot and will stay hotter for longer. This leads to a warmer vape and higher juice consumption which some would believe leads to more flavour

This is all very personal so make your own mind up by trying the coils until you find the one for you.

Another example

The Nautilus & Nautilus 2 BVC coils

The Nautilus BVC coils are a mouth to Lung coil great for those looking to mimic smoking. Each has its perceived strengths and weaknesses.

1.8ohm – The best for battery life & the overall best selling coil

1.6ohm – Can be turned up a little higher but uses battery slightly quicker. People who burn the 1.8ohm quickly often settle on this coil.

0.7ohm – A warmer vape when turned up to its maximum wattage but with that comes more battery life and liquid consumed

0.4ohm – can take even more wattage but will drain your battery and liquid the quickest out of all of the coils.

Ultimately if you are burning out coils quickly in any device you are expecting too much from the coil. Any time you experience a dry scratchy draw stop and think. The coil isn’t keeping up so take a few draws without power This will prime the coil ready for your next few drags. If it’s happening consistently you need to turn down your device, take shorter draws or slow down a little until you can get a coil or device that fits with what you want it to do.

With all coils for all devices it’s a personal choice Everyday someone says to me that coil is rubbish, they burn out too quick. This one is the best. The next person I speak to will say the exact opposite.

It’s like E-Liquid never trust another Vapers opinion because we all like something different and every liquid tastes different with every coil.

You have to experiment and make your own choice.

Is vaping really that safe?

Do you have someone in your life who really needs to give up but still isnt sure?

We are happy to answer any questions they have. We want to help people stop smoking.

If they need some confidence first this article covers most if not all of the big things people say about vaping.

1. But we aren’t sure if its safe.

2. What about Popcorn lung ?

3. Some university said it causes heart disease

All propaganda of course but some of the public believe it or want to believe it.

If they still aren’t sure this article directly links to the NHS Smokefree website with a great deal of questions answered and a guide to giving up or switching

When considering switching to vaping the key word is switching as initially all you are giving up is the tar and cancer/disease causing chemicals in lit tobacco With the right device, nicotine strength and liquid you won’t crave anything.

If you are in the UK and want some advice as to what device is going to work for you best we have this post which breaks it down into more detail, you can comment below or contact Vapers Online at the links in the menu above. They have all switched or given up smoking themselves and have a great knowledge on the best way for you to be successful

How to charge my vape safely

How to charge my Vape Safely or Vaping Battery Etiquette

As vapers we are trail blazing a fairly new technology.  Recently I have heard people describe their broken device or a device that no longer charges as it blew up.  This is easily said but can we try and use slightly less scary language as to a new vaper that is a red flag or potentially an excuse for them to keep killing themselves with traditional cigarettes.

 

Whilst we are on the subject of batteries its important to talk about charging etiquette

 

Built in batteries or separate cells and charging ?

 

Can you take the batteries out of your vape ?

If you can Do you charge them in the device using the usb port on your vape ?

 

Built in :

If the batteries do not come out then use the usb lead provided with the device (Always use the provided lead for safety reasons) Not all usb leads that look the same are the same. The reason it is fine is because the manufacturer has tuned the charging for the exact cell they have used and the exact lead they have provided.

Just make sure you are present when it is charging and do not leave them over night. Alway use a plug that will put a slow charge in if you can 1 amp preferably but if it gets hot use a plug that charges slower. If in doubt ask your local store

 Examples of batteries or mods with built in batteries

Coolfire IV Ultra – Built in battery mod

OBS Cube 80w – Built in battery mod

Separate Cells :

It is not recommended that users charge their separate cell devices with a usb lead in to the device. These devices can be charged via usb as an emergency measure but is not recommended as a permanent solution. This is not a line to sell chargers there are significant reason why it should be done externally. Do not assume that it is safe. These batteries are not made for vaping and the manufacturer has no idea what cells you are using. Best to use the safer solution of a named quality charger. Hint: if it has fire in the title it probably isn’t the safest for high drain vaping ie 30 watts plus

Examples of mods that take external cells

Proton Mod – Takes 2 x 18650 High Drain Batteries

2 x Samsung 30q High Drain Batteries

Xtar VC4 Charger

1. Most vapes cannot balance charge more than one cell. One cell is charged and then after that the next cell is charged. All of the drain, excess heat and over use of that one cell causes strain on that 1st battery in the vape and ultimately leads to the demise of that 1 battery leading to the need of a new pair. If lucky it will just stop working if unlucky the cell may go into melt down

 

2. If your batteries are not the same age, ie the same amount of charges, the same amount of use and charged together for their whole lives then they are unbalanced. Meaning they cannot deliver the high output required by your vape. This will lead to low performance and low battery life.

 

3. External chargers let you monitor the charge going in to your cells. Good quality chargers will put what is needed in as opposed to as much as possible as fast as possible which can caused issues. A good charger will slow the charge rate down to recondition a bad cell. Internal charging will not do this. Using a good external charger could mean your batteries getting you through a day away from your charging equipment or not.

 

Ultimately it is up to you how safe you want to be. Yes an external charger may sound like a hassle to you but it depends on the risks you want to take.

 

Please make sure your external cells have perfectly intact wraps on them If they have any of the metal showing under the wrap or the insulator on top please either re wrap or buy new cells

 

PS This post is not to scare you If you have any doubts about your charging routine just ask. Batteries get warm when they charge but if they are red hot then its time to look into it

Making the Switch to Vaping

So you’ve made the decision or someone has made it for you. Its time to try to switch to vaping.  “I can only give it a try” I can hear some of you saying. Some of you may have tried the other remedies out there and failed.  I myself tried several off the shelf ways of quitting and it just didn’t work.  This is why vaping works because initially you aren’t quitting anything. I promise you with the right device and nicotine strength liquid the process is very easy. I know some of you don’t believe me cos I wouldn’t of believed it either.

That brings me to my first point. You absolutely can switch to vaping. This is the wonderful thing about vaping. There is something out there for everyone.  You just need to speak with someone who can get an idea of what you need and set you up with the right device to start you on the path.

My Journey into Vaping

Now is a good time to tell you about my journey into vaping from traditional tobacco.  I started smoking as a teenager against all of the advice and through smoking became asthmatic. So much so I was using 3 types of inhaler every day. I was wheezing all night long and waking up coughing and often being sick. I decided after 20 plus years that was it. I tried several things to give up over a few years but nothing worked for me. One day I was watching a technology reviewer on You Tube and they started reviewing the odd electronic cigarette device. This got my interest and I ordered my first kit over the internet.  Of course today we have vape shops but that wasn’t a thing when I started. A couple of days later it arrived I filled it up with some 12mg Raspberry flavour eliquid and to this day I have not smoked another traditional cigarette. To my amazement the cravings were completely taken care of and even better I was not as short of breath any more.  Within two weeks I did not need the asthma inhalers any more. I was no longer wheezing and the simple things like walking down the street no longer made me out of breath. The impact on my life was incredible.  It made such an impact on me that I’ve dedicated most of my time to helping others achieve the same thing ever since

Introduction to vaping 

Essentially there are two types of vapers.

Those that inhale directly to their lungs (often referred to as like a shisha pipe) ie Direct to Lung and those that inhale into their mouths and then to their lungs (like smoking) ie Mouth to Lung.

To be successful in switching this is the first thing we need to determine. You can tell which you are by having a drag on a cigarette. Do you draw on it, then inhale and then exhale (3 motions) or do you draw and immediately exhale (2 motions). The first is mouth to lung and the second is direct to lung.

In practise if you smoke 5 plus cigarettes a day then I would recommend a mouth to lung kit which will mimic smoking as close as possible. The direct to lung devices are about producing clouds which is fun but not necessarily the greatest way to transition away from traditional tobacco as the experience is very different.  Although for some it is the way to go.  If in doubt I highly recommend going to a shop where you can try both options and see what feels more natural to you

Choosing a Device

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Choosing a device firstly comes down to choosing mouth to lung or direct to lung and then down to form factor.

The most common thing for smokers to want is something small and discrete but as they progress they may want more battery life which means their device will get bigger and bigger as the larger the battery the longer it will last.

The great thing about mouth to lung is it doesn’t have to be huge to last you a full day as mouth to lung vaping isn’t as taxing on the battery as direct to lung vaping is. This is the reason the cloudier of vapers carry such large devices

Examples of Mouth to Lung kits

Examples of some Direct to Lung Kits

What liquid & strength

The next challenge is finding a liquid that you can use. Your taste buds will change drastically soon after switching so do not buy too much initially. Experiment with strength and flavour until you find what you like

If you can’t get your head around it not tasting like tobacco or menthol then start there.

If you never liked the taste of tobacco anyway then start with a fruit or a sweet of some sort. The possibilities are endless but don’t dwell on it too much as it will taste very different in a week or so.

Here is a rough guide to a starting nicotine strength when choosing your first eliquid.

Mouth to lung

0 to 5 cigarettes a day – 3mg

5 to 10 cigarettes a day – 6mg

10 to 20 cigarettes a day – 12mg

20 to 25+ cigarettes a day – 18mg

Everyone is different but use this as a guide so you know where to start.

For most people it will tickle your throat for a day or two until you get used to it but if it is really irritating perhaps go down a strength and try that. If you find you can’t put the device down and it’s a problem then go up a strength.

Direct to lung.

5 to 15 cigarettes a day – 3mg

15 plus cigarettes a day – 6mg

Anything above a 6mg for most in a direct to lung device will be very harsh but everyone is different so if that’s what you need then go for it.

The main thing to remember here is nicotine wasn’t the thing in traditional tobacco that was doing the damage. Think of it like caffeine it essentially is as harmful to the body as that.

Some Advice

Don’t put any pressure on yourself. If you have a smoke don’t worry about it.  Think about the cigarettes you haven’t smoked.  After a while if you have the right device and the right nicotine strength then traditional tobacco won’t be close to as satisfying as a vape is.

If you have any questions please ask away.

I know some of you may still be thinking “I don’t really want to give up smoking. I like smoking”.  Just remember you aren’t giving up anything really.  You still get to take a break and inhale/exhale vapour.  You still get your nicotine.  All you are giving up is thousands of chemicals and carcinogens, your clothes and breath smelling and the large chance of an early grave.

Now if someone offered you all the good things about smoking without the bad

Wouldn’t you take it  ?