As an occasional social smoker (yes, shake your head I am one of those) I have never had to consider methods of avoiding addiction, or quitting for that matter. As a 10 year old I was horrified to open the conservatory door one evening and catch my father standing by the shed sneaking a ‘cheeky cig’ before dinner time, and from that day on I made it my mission to torment the man with gruesomely factual health statistics in the hope of putting an end to his harmful habit. Struck with ignorance to my vulnerable age and good heart, this wasn’t relaying the message as I had intended. I then took to a more aggressive approach of stealing all his cigarettes and stamping on them in the garden – leaving £7 worth of crushed tobacco in a muddy trench of stubbornness and frustration.
As you can imagine, the arguments and hysterics that followed that approach were not worth the satisfaction of physically terminating the cancer batons – although it felt pretty adrenalizing. I soon surrendered defencelessly and years later eventually gave into trying it for myself (he doesn’t know this but I can thank him for it if he ever tries to ground me). I am not an avid smoker and so I would never tick ‘yes’ in little ‘do you smoke’ box on health documents nor will I ever be able to understand how some people can crave a cigarette before they’ve even got up to clean their teeth – but I don’t live in a cave and I can estimate that around 20% of the UK population are still committed lung destroyers.
However, after years of standing outside in the blistering winds trying to create a wind block with his hand in an attempt to catch a light, my old man has finally stubbed out his life-long ritual. Without having to give up the rush of nicotine that indulges regular smokers, but with extreme health benefits and no need to traipse out into the cold, he’s started using e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes (commonly known as E-cigs) have fast become the most prevalent alternative to smoking, and in some cases quick fixes in giving it up altogether. My dad feels less reliant on the drug that once dominated his daily routine and feels healthier and stronger in the process, and it appears he is not the only one reaping the benefits of this 21st-century contraption. It is estimated that there are over 1.3 million e-cig users in the UK alone, and figures are constantly on the rise. Although the e-cigarette is not completely risk-free (when is anything?) it’s been proven to be 95% less harmful than your ordinary 10 pack of Richmond…Or any other cigarette for that matter.
Not only is inhaling the tobacco-less vapour a much healthier substitute but it is becoming a pleasurable day-to-day activity thanks to e-cigarette retailer Grey Haze (http://greyhaze.co.uk/). Grey Haze has stormed the market with its multifarious selection of both delicious and intriguing flavoured e-liquids. Home to popular brands such as Charlie’s Chalk Dust, Cosmic Fog and Cloud Chaser, the outlet is quickly expanding adding tasty vapour on to the menu! Three festive flavours created by The Originals are popular due to our upcoming spooky season – and what more dedicated way to really get into the Halloween swing than with Purple Custard, Red Mist and Yellow Zombie flavoured e-liquids? (Purchase HERE) The website also has great tips and insight into the world of vapour, so even if you just want to get clued into how it works and what the benefits of using it are then head over and educate yourself with the beginners guide!
Seeing how much happier my dad is, and not having him have to leave the dinner table when we’re out at family functions has made the e-cigarette seem like the shining beacon at the end of a very dark tunnel. To vape or not to vape, that is a question with a now very obvious answer.
