How Vaping Can Help You Overcome The Menthol Cigarette Ban

If you smoke cigarettes, then you may well be aware that as of 20th May 2020, menthol cigarettes were banned and removed from sale, along with several other tobacco products throughout the UK and EU.

Are you worried about what you can do, now you can’t purchase your favourite menthol flavoured tobacco cigarettes?

In this article we'll take a look at how e-cigarettes and vaping might prove to be a savvy alternative for you as we get ready to wave goodbye to the days of menthol cigarettes, and smoking in general.

The Why and When of the Menthol Cigarette Ban

With around 25% of smokers regularly smoking menthol cigarettes, part of the Tobacco Product Directive’s (TPD) campaign to reduce the number of smokers in the UK and EU. The ban is part of a four year phasing out period that, as well as reducing the number of smokers, will, in turn, reduce the number of preventable deaths that result from smoking.

Because menthol masks the taste of tobacco and relaxes the airways, menthol cigarettes are known to be particularly appealing to underage smokers because they are easier to smoke. With 75% of smokers estimated trying smoking before the age of 18, it’s thought that the imminent ban will reduce the number of smokers throughout Europe by 2.4 million.

Stay Satisfied and Start Vaping

If you smoke menthols, then the likeliho,od is that you do so, because either you don’t like the taste of traditional tobacco, or you enjoy the crisp and refreshing flavour of menthol.

Once the menthol ban commences, rather than opt for the conventional cigarettes that you don’t like, and that have some seriously negative consequences for your health, why not quit smoking altogether, or at least reduce the amount you smoke, and try vaping?

Vaping has helped an estimated 3.2 million vapers in the UK quit smoking. By heating a nicotine-based e-liquid, expert evidence published by Public Health England (PHE) shows us that e-cigarettes can be up to an incredible 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes and that vaping even has the potential to help smokers quit smoking altogether. This is backed up by research from Queen Mary’s University London that found vaping to be up to twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapies such as gum and patches. With more and more smokers turning to vaping to aid them in their quest to stop smoking, depending on where you live in the country and your local councils' provisions, your GP may even recommend and supply you with e-cigarettes to help you stop.

It is well documented how difficult it is to stop smoking, which is why vaping has proved to be a hugely popular method. While traditional and prescription nicotine replacement therapies have worked for some in the past, they are not necessarily suitable for everyone. As well as being addicted to nicotine; the habit, experience and throat hit can be equally addictive for smokers. Where products like patches and gums might satisfy the nicotine addiction, how do you combat the remaining cravings?

Whatever it is that you enjoy about smoking, e-cigarette and e-liquid manufacturers are frequently finding ways to replicate certain experiences in order to provide you with products that aim to help you stay satisfied and more importantly, stay smoke-free.

What You Need to Start Vaping

If vaping seems like unfamiliar territory to you, then you might perhaps feel a little overwhelmed by the choices that are presented to you. What you need to know is that vaping doesn’t need to be a complicated process, and there will be just a few items that are essential for your needs. Similar to those who might smoke rolling tobacco and use rolling papers and filters to create cigarettes; there are one or two components that you will require to start vaping. Essential items will be a battery-powered device such as an e-cigarette and a nicotine-based e-liquid.

Device / Battery: Available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, devices are also known as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, vape pens, vape mods and vape pods. These devices will either have a built-in battery or in the instance of vape mods, will require the purchase of a separate battery.

E-Liquid:Available in a variety of strengths, e-liquids contain the all-important nicotine you need to satisfy your bodies addiction. With a range of sweet, fruit, tobacco and menthol flavours available,

Which Is The Best Device?

As we just mentioned, when it comes to choosing your device, there will be many options at your disposal.

Starter Kits / E-Liquid Kits: The best option for novice vapers will be to invest in a vaping starter kit. Typically included in your kit will be a standard e-cigarette battery, prefilled e-liquid cartridges and a USB charger. Highly affordable, fuss-free and easy to use, these standard e-cigs closely resemble the shape and size of a traditional cigarette. Simply screw the prefilled cartridge onto the end of a fully charged e-cig battery and away you go. It’s as easy as that.

Now, prefilled cartridges are disposable, which means that if you vape a lot, you may end up with more package and waste than your conscience can handle. If you’re keen on cutting down your carbon footprint, then choosing an e-liquid kit will be the way forward. These e-liquid kits include the same items as the starter kit, except that you will be supplied with refillable tanks and a bottle of your chosen e-liquid in which to fill it up with. With a relatively low power output, a standard e-cig may be all you need if you’re used to smoking light to mild cigarettes.

Vape Pens: Vape pens and vaporizers are typically more powerful than a standard e-cigarette, which can be useful for enhancing the flavours of your e-liquid, as well as producing more vapour. Similarly to e-liquid kits, vape pens will have tanks that you fill with e-liquid, but while these kinds of devices are suitable for beginners, the likelihood is that they will be slightly more expensive.

Vape Pods: The latest style of devices designed for the vaping community are vape pods. Small, compact and powerful, these are super easy to use and will produce some great flavours and vapour production. With prefilled or refillable pods to choose from, just click your pod into position and vape happy. Suitable to be used with the e-liquid alternative, nic salts, experience a great throat hit similar to that of a strong cigarette.

Vape Mods: Once you have familiarised yourself with vaping and have found your vaping feet so to speak, you may find that you'd like to tailor certain aspects of your experience. From airflow to power output, vape mods provide many options and interchangeable parts that mean you can enjoy a truly personalised vape that is suited to your needs. While there are devices that are suitable for beginner vapers, vape mods will typically be a device for intermediate and advanced vapers.

Finding Your Favourite E-Liquid

If menthol cigarettes have been a firm fixture in your life, then good news about switching to vaping is that you’ll still be able to enjoy the cool, crisp flavours that you’ve been used to all this time but in e-liquid form.

If you’re thinking about pursuing the e-liquid or prefilled cartridge route, then V2 E-Liquid and V2 Cigs Classic Cartridges come in a range of 15 flavours that include Menthol, Peppermint, Bold Leaf Menthol and Green Tea Menthol. While you might like to continue your affair with menthol flavoured nicotine products, the great thing about vaping is that you’ll be able to access a range of flavours that you might not have thought about. Whether you fancy something fruity like Grape or Cherry or perhaps like the sound of something sweet like Cola or Vanilla, opting for a sample pack of prefilled cartridges will allow you to explore a range of options that may well become your go-to flavoured e-liquid.

The good news is that if you’re thinking about using refillable tanks and bottles of e-liquid, the same minty menthol options are available in V2’s Platinum E-Liquid range.