Vaping vs. Tobacco
Introduction
Vaping vs. Tobacco
The financial issue is one of the major areas that are highly debated when discussing vaping and tobacco. Various states have large tracks of a tobacco plantation and that the amount of tobacco sold forms more substantial portion of the country's revenue. Smoking is known to create tremendous wealth, majorly for the government, which has been the leading cause of all conflict of interest. Government revenue is, to a greater percentage, connected to cigarette sales. Tobacco forms a larger part of revenue for huge transnational industries, which results to external factors having a strong influence within the government. With the current economic hardship witnessed across the world, governments will always have a conflict of interest in dealing with smoking and instead tend to protect it. Government do all they can prevent any form of threat to the source of revenue. Tobacco contributes so much towards the economic growth of most of the countries where it is grown. Revenue collected from tobacco is used to offer essential commodities such as health amenities, roads, schools, and many other beneficial things to the citizen. People find tobacco to be highly important and would always want to protect it from any form of discriminatory laws or any substitute product. Sweanor, for example, believes that there are efforts put to prevent any form of innovation that would create a substitute for tobacco in Canada (464).
Vape, on the other hand, is a technology whose sales may not be directly related to the country’s revenue. Besides the effects it has on the revenue being collected when it is allowed to substitute tobacco fully, so many people who smoke are not capable of affording vape gear (Holt 4). Even though people complain that vape gear is expensive, tobacco cigarette is much more costly. A pack of tobacco goes for about 15 dollars and someone who consumes a pack every day would part with 105 dollars in one week. Juice, on the other hand, is priced from about 15 for a bottle. A bottle of vape can take a day or some weeks based on the number of times one vape and the type of juice is bought. Vaping, therefore, becomes nearly seven times cheaper than tobacco (Holt 4). One who switches from smoking to vaping is likely to save much and use the saving on much more important things.
Based on the cost, it can be seen that governments will always struggle to push for large tobacco sales to boost its revenue without thinking of how individuals feel. Besides the benefit regarding revenue, the government should find out how costly tobacco is to the citizens. Vaping comes out to be a very cheap way of quenching the same thirst that one would want to satisfy by smoking expensive tobacco. Based on cost, therefore, vaping is preferable to tobacco as it is cost effective.
Health Related Issues
Tobacco is blended with an aim of providing consistent tastes of cigarettes. There is cellulose acetate filter at the end of most cigarettes. These filters are mostly biodegradable, which makes it less harmful to the environment. According to Kriegel, tobacco is associated with more than 4000 toxic chemicals. Among the many chemicals in tobacco cigarette is carcinogens. A carcinogen is known to be the primary cause of cancer. There are also various chemical additives associated with cigarettes that are meant to change the flavor (Kriegel). Such chemical additives make nicotine very addictive, which promotes the burning properties of the blend. Ammonia is one of the chemicals used in tobacco cigarettes, and it is known to be a household cleaner. Arsenic is used as rat poison and yet is being smoked in tobacco. Cadmium that is used in car batteries is one of the chemicals contained in a cigarette. Cyanide, which is a very deadly poison, is a component of a tobacco cigarette. The list of chemicals used in the cigarette is very long, and that is the reason it kills people at a very high rate (Mackay and Michael 17). According to Sweanor, tobacco is the major cause of preventable deaths being in countries such as Canada (464). Forty-three of the over 4000 chemicals contained in tobacco are known to be cancer-causing compounds (Kriegel). Besides cancer, tobacco is associated with stroke, hypertension, and emphysema. Continued use of tobacco cigarettes will always lead to one's early death. In the United Kingdom, there are about eight million tobacco users. About 100000 of those who smoke tobacco in the UK die every year (Meikle). Besides losing young people who could help build the economy of their country and the world in general, many countries including the UK, use the huge money to rehabilitate tobacco addicts (Meikle). Numerous campaigns are being put to help in offering behavioral support to people who are interested in quitting tobacco. Quitting smoking tobacco cigarette has never been an easy thing especially when there is no better alternative (Mackay and Michael 38). Cigarettes are only sold to those that have attained the majority age, 18 years and above. Most countries have banned smoking of tobacco in public places, and numerous anti-tobacco campaigns are being run across different countries.
As for vaping, countries such as England have conducted numerous research and found out that vaping is 95 percent less harmful compared to tobacco. Increased use of vape is likely to reduce the number of deaths caused by regular cigarettes. It is highly for smokers to reduce their health risks more significantly when they use vape other than tobacco. Vaping is considered very effective for those that are in smoking cessation. So many people successfully use vape to reduce their smoking habit or quit smoking altogether (Meikle). Since tobacco has remained the main killer in countries such as the UK, campaigns seem to portray vape as the best alternative to those who have resolved to quit or those that are in the process of quitting smoking. Research showed that about 2.6 million people in the United Kingdom currently use a vape, which is also referred to e-cigarettes. So many people are now vaping with an intention of leaving tobacco cigarette. Even though vaping is being poised as the best alternative for smoking, vape also has addictive drug just like smoking. Most of the e-cigarette has nicotine, which affects the neurotransmitters within the brain. Vaping, therefore, causes addictive behavior and cravings. Besides nicotine, the e-cigarette is known to emit carcinogens, which is a highly dangerous substance even when used in small doses. Therefore, vaping is not completely risk-free when compared to tobacco and it is equally a threat to public health (Biener et al. 16024). So many people believe that it can be as harmful as smoking and as such, millions of those who smoke do not consider quitting (Holt 4). Even though e-cigarette is believed to be equally having harmful substances, the risk that is involved is significantly lower compared to tobacco. While tobacco has over 400000 dangerous chemicals such as tar and arsenic, vaping only has nicotine, which is only addictive and not harmful. Second-hand effects of vaping are therefore less negative as would be compared to traditional cigarettes. It is true that second-hand vapor exists but the level of smoke and effects of vaping are greatly lower than that of tobacco. Vaping is socially accepted and does not have a bad smell. Smokers who vape get same experience and sensation like those with nicotine habits yet can be used in far more places. Vaping does not have a sticky and unpleasing smell. Those who vape are not at risk of having their teeth or fingernails discolored. There are numerous trusted companies selling e-liquid in the United States and other countries that have the same regulations. Such companies produce their liquids in a sterile environment that makes it less harmful.
Tobacco has been the major cause of various diseases such cancer, stroke, hypertension, and many similar ones. It has multiple numbers of chemicals that are very harmful to health. Vaping, on the other hand, can be seen to be having some of the chemicals that tobacco has (Nocera). Both tobacco and vaping have nicotine and some element of carcinogen. The two are addictive as they both contain nicotine. However, it can be seen that vaping has fewer chemicals compared to the over 400000 chemicals that tobacco has. Therefore, from a health perspective, vaping is less risky compared to tobacco. Since numerous diseases are associated with tobacco, most countries find vaping to be a convenient way of reducing multiple deaths caused by tobacco. So many people find it the most convenient way to quit smoking as it offers the same sensation that is got when smoking a tobacco cigarette. The rate of deaths in the UK has significantly gone down as intensified campaign against tobacco has been on the rise with vaping given as a better alternative. Most countries consider enlightening smokers that vaping is not a 100 percent harmless but a better alternative to tobacco (Meikle). When Companies that manufacture e-liquids take it as their responsibility to provide people with products with the least number of chemicals, vaping will be far healthier compared to tobacco.
Safety Perspective
It is also important to find out which one of the two, vaping vs. tobacco, is safer to use. Safety is a major concern for someone who is making up a decision on which one to use out of the two. Using tobacco cigarette stick only requires one to have a lighter. There are those who use matchstick or fuel lighters to light their cigarettes. Tobacco can be considered to pose much safety concerns (Biener et al. 16021). Tobacco cigarettes have resulted in significant fire outbreaks, and so many have been killed because of smoking. In most cases, filter, which is always at the end of the cigarette, is not consumed. The careless throwing off such filters without putting them off has been the leading cause of forest fires.
Vaping can equally be very dangerous when one is not educated on how to use batteries. The most dangerous one is the sub ohm atomizers that are used on mechanical and unregulated mods (VapeCentral n.p.). However, brands such as Innokin and Aspire have taken safety as one of the highest priorities when producing their products. Battery safety will not be of any concern when using these brands especially when not using very little resistance sub ohm that is made of over 50 watts (VapeCentral n.p.). Just like other batteries such as lithium, there is need to take care to ensure safe usage.
Both tobacco cigarettes and vaping has safety concerns. Smoking has started numerous fires. Vaping, on the other hand, poses a risk, especially when using batteries with low resistance sub ohm. Any electronic device such laptops and even phones are not a 100 percent safe. Even though tobacco and vaping are creating safety threat, vaping is relatively safer compared to tobacco cigarettes. While tobacco smoking has caused numerous fire outbreaks, vaping has not started any huge fire since it was invented.
Convenience
Tobacco has been banned in public places as it produces irritating smoke. Those who do not smoke find the smoke very annoying and as such, most countries have smoking zones. Those who smoke are always forced to step out of their offices or bar to smoke, which is highly inconveniencing. Lighting a tobacco cigarette would require one to smoke the whole stick, as it is very inconveniencing to switch off and keep half a stick. It, therefore, means that one consumes more nicotine every time one lights a stick.
Vaping has a minimal aesthetic impact and does not have a health effect on bystanders. This makes vaping socially accepted in numerous social places. Vaping does not require one to go out of the office or bars to vape, which is a great advantage. So many smokers get motivated with vaping as it is convenient and can be used anywhere without inconveniencing others.
Vaping is more convenience compared to tobacco, as it has no effect on bystanders. Vaping unlike tobacco smoking is allowed in social places. No one is forced to vacate their office when vaping as it happens with tobacco, which motivates smokers. Regarding convenience, vaping is more convenient than tobacco.
Conclusion
Works Cited
Biener, Lois et al. "Electronic Cigarette Trial and Use among Young Adults: Reasons for Trial and Cessation of Vaping". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12.12 (2015): 16019-16026.
Holt, Joseph. "Vaping-the newest fad that may be here to stay?" (2016). Print
Kriegel, Dave. "Vaping Vs Smoking - Differences Between Ecigs and Cigarettes." Vaping360. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 July 2016.
Mackay, Judith, and Michael P Eriksen. The Tobacco Atlas. [Geneva]: World Health Organization, 2002: 11-42.
Meikle, James. "Vaping: E-Cigarettes Safer Than Smoking, Says Public Health England." The Guardian. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 July 2016.
Nocera, Joe. "Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking?” Nytimes.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 July 2016.
Sweanor, David. "Smoking, vaping and public health: Time to be creative." Can J Public Health 106.8 (2016): 464-466.
VapeCentral. Vaping 101: Everything, You Need To Know, VaporHouse, 2015. Print
