E-cigarettes have shown a substantial rise in popularity since they entered the UK market over six years ago, with an estimated 1.3 million people in the UK having now switched to the tobacco substitute.

Despite this upward trend in e-cigarette sales, many students have rejected the technology, branding it as ‘lame’ and have chosen rather to stick with the tobacco equivalent in spite of potential health, financial and even social benefits.

Still part of the baccy brigade? Here’s why every smoker should switch to e-cigarettes.

Money

NHS research estimates smoking costs the average 5 a day smoker over £500 a year

The cheapest 20 pack of cigarettes currently on the market costs £5.99 which works out at 30p cigarette while big brands such as Marlboro retail at around £8.30 which works out to 42p a cigarette.

Although many of the more frugal smokers have now switched to rolling tobacco in an attempt to save cash, 25g of Golden Virginia along with filters and papers will set you back around £10, working out to around 15-20p a roll-up.

The first e-cigarette shop on Smithdown Road opened last year.

In comparison, an e-cigarette starter kit from a shop on Smithdown Road costs around £20 for a rechargeable and refillable device while a bottle of nicotine fluid costs around £5. These tend to last around two to three weeks each depending how much you use it and bottles can also be bought according to their nicotine strength.

So after initial costs you may be paying as little as £2 a week for your habit. One less pint a week and you won’t even notice.

Health

You probably don’t need telling again but yes, cigarettes are bad for you. Cigarettes contain over 100 toxic chemicals with some notable inclusions being benzene (petrol additive), arsenic (rat poison) and hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison) whereas e-cigarette fluid contains just one, nicotine.

E-cigarettes are smokeless and work through vaporising nicotine fluid onto a hot plate which you then inhale. While inhaling anything carries some element of risk (septicemia etc.), at least you can enjoy your nicotine hit without the fear of contracting cancer, cardiovascular disease, emphysema as well as a host of life threatening diseases associated with smoking.

Smoke wherever you want

Since the smoking ban took effect in 2007, smokers have had to become increasingly used to braving the elements rain or shine, and more annoyingly, their non-smoking mates are often forced to accompany them.

The winter months can be some of the hardest times for a smoker.

E-cigarettes on the other hand are completely smokeless, odourless, and ash free, meaning they can be used in any building almost undetected. This means no more battling the wind outside the Sydney Jones. You can enjoy your nicotine any place, any time.

Much better.

No more ‘stuff’

 A smoker’s pockets are regularly jammed full of various pouches, tubes, packets, and lighters and if one piece of the puzzle is missing they’re often doomed to walking to Tesco for the sake of one measly filter.

All you need is an e-cigarette, a charger and fluid. Much less messy.

Of course with e-cigarettes this problem vanishes. No wet rizlas, no dry tobacco, no  “can I pinch filter mate?”, no nothing.

No more stinking of smoke

Bottles normally cost £5 and can last around 3 weeks.

E-cigarettes are odour-free, meaning that unattractive stale smoke smell that accompanies every smoker instantly goes away. E-cigarettes are also available in a variety of flavours, meaning smokers breath can be replaced by apple, mint, or even bubblegum. Yum.

E-cigarettes probably aren’t the best idea if you’re already smoke free as nicotine is surprisingly quite addictive. But for any smoker who’s starting to tire of the trials and tribulations which accompany their habit, look no further than e-cigarettes.

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