“No under 18” a common phrase for age restrictions.
Vaping has not been around as long as traditional cigarettes but various studies from around the world have shown that it is not only a successful tool in helping people quit smoking cigarettes, it has also shown that it is less harmful and healthier in many aspects (compared to traditional cigarette smoking). Vaping is most definitely becoming the number 1 alternative to nicotine and even cannabis consumption.
Overall, with vaping becoming more popular amongst nicotine and cannabis consumers, the availability of vaping products and access to new vaping tech has opened the economy to new and exciting opportunities to supply products and services to consumers.
This increase in popularity has also opened up an opportunity for legit and responsible companies like Vaperite and Cannarite to, not only, supply everything you need from a vaping perspective, but also to provide much-needed education to consumers.
As a responsible supplier of vaping products and services and also a supplier of products and paraphernalia used to consume cannabis (we do not sell cannabis/marijuana, THC concentrates, or products that contain these substances), we take the law and the safety of our customers very seriously.
We have previously posted on our blog an article debunking a lot of common Vape Myths, but I would like to expand on two of those today.
Vaping is just as harmful as cigarettes
and
Vaping targets children and teenagers
Vaping is just as harmful as cigarettes
Even though vaping has not been around as long as traditional cigarettes (which has been around since around the 9th century), several studies are showing that vaping is less harmful than traditional cigarette smoking. In 2015, there was a report, by Public Health England (PHE) saying that vaping is 95% less harmful than cigarettes.
Evidently, this finding was based on the fact that e-liquids do not contain any of the harmful and hazardous chemicals contained in traditional cigarettes.
Let’s unpack that a bit…
Most cigarettes contain tobacco and various chemical additives. Cigarette smokers expose themselves to a mix of over 7,000 chemicals when they inhale cigarette smoke, these same chemicals also affect those around them (in the form of second-hand smoke). Additionally, these chemical additives in cigarettes can affect and damage almost every part of your body.
Here are some of the popular chemicals in cigarettes and the potential dangers they pose to consumers:
| Chemical | Potential dangers posed to consumers |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Inhaling cadmium fumes may result in metal fume fever, but it can further progress to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and even death. |
| Lead (Pb) | Lead in cigarettes sink directly into the bloodstream and long term exposure to Lead can cause Lead Poisoning |
| Acrolein (C3H4O) | Acrolein is a toxic respiratory irritant. Acrolein has been estimated to account for 97% of total non-cancer respiratory hazards linked to cigarette smoking according to the Fowles and Dybing 2003 study |
| Acetaldehyde (C2H4O) | Acetaldehyde is not an added chemical in cigarettes but is produced when other tobacco additives (like sugars, sorbitol and glycerol) are combusted. Acetaldehyde can irritate the airways and is considered a possible carcinogen. |
| Benzene (C6H6) | Tobacco smoke exposes consumers to high levels of Benzene. Long-term exposure to benzene can cause acute myeloid leukaemia. |
| Ammonia (NH3) | Ammonia is added to cigarettes to increase the absorption of Nicotine by the body. Long term exposure to Ammonia can cause lung damage or death. |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Carbon Monoxide is not added to cigarettes but is a by-product of combustion. Cigarette smoke may contain large quantities of Carbon Monoxide that may deprive the body and vital organs of Oxygen. |
E-liquids on the other hand only contain 4 ingredients. The main ingredients in e-liquids (or vape juice) are Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine (VG), flavouring, and Nicotine or CBD (Nicotine and CBD is an optional ingredient).
Let me expand on these ingredients a bit further:
| Ingredient | Description and potential health effects |
| Propylene GlycolPG | Propylene Glycol is a common preservative found in food. US and European food authorities have declared PG as generally safe for use in foods. Some people may experience an allergic reaction to Propylene Glycol. |
| Vegetable Glycerine VG | Vegetable Glycerine (also just called Glycerine) is a sweet-tasting and non-toxic liquid and is widely used as a sweetener in food products. For this reason, Some people may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and excessive thirst when consuming Vegetable Glycerine. |
| Flavouring | Food grade flavouring is used to manufacture e-liquids and is commonly considered safe for human consumption. |
| Nicotine (Optional ingredient) | Nicotine is not a carcinogen but is considered to be the addictive ingredient found in e-liquid. As a result, Vaperite offers 0% Nicotine e-liquids for consumers who want to vape but do not want to consume Nicotine. |
| Cannabidiol (CBD) (Optional ingredient) | Cannabidiol is a natural compound found in cannabis. CBD is generally used for its medical benefits such as Relieving inflammation, Managing anxiety, Alleviating depression, Pain control and management, Relieving epilepsy. For instance, Cannarite CBD e-liquid vape does not give you the “high” effect that you get from consuming cannabis. |
Vaping targets children and teenagers
Basically, It is true that most people under 18 will get curious and experiment with smoking in their teenage years. Teens are also more prone to try something when there is something new and exciting or fashionable on the market.
Some key facts about tobacco use amongst teens and children:
- Almost 2500 children under 18 will try their first cigarette on a daily basis
- In addition, severe Nicotine addiction is more prevalent under people who start smoking at a young age
- Moreover, young smokers are more likely to smoke Menthol cigarettes
- Furthermore, In 2015, 9.3% of High School students reported smoking cigarettes
Think about it though, teens can get access to cigarettes way easier. This can be due to friends, peers, parents that smoke) or through the black market. Teenagers who smoke cigarettes already could indeed turn to vaping as an alternative. That said, the sole purpose of vaping is to act as an alternative to smoking or as a means to quit smoking. For this reason, Vaperite and Cannarite will never sell or promote or even allow anyone under the age of 18 access to our products or services.
No under 18 – In Summary
All in all, armed with the correct information, you can make up your mind. It is clear from the studies that vaping is a safer alternative to Nicotine consumption than smoking cigarettes. The same way an under 18 can get cigarettes from a friend or the black market, they can get a vape and e-liquid. But any legal, respectable and responsible Vape company like Vaperite and Cannarite will never sell any products or provide any service, Online or at any of our 23 nationwide stores to any person under 18 as defined in our company Term and Conditions.
