Myths & Facts

Myth: Electronic cigarettes are being sold to kids.

Fact: E-cigarettes are intended for smokers of the legal age. In fact no individual is allowed in a dedicated vape shop unless they are of legal age. In most provinces and territories this is 19. By law it is illegal to sell or supply any electronic cigarette to an individual under age. 

The industry advocates proper labelling and encourages retailers to check identification of customers and notes that electronic cigarette companies in good standing validate age prior to transacting online purchases.In an independent study that included a random sample of US electronic cigarette customers, the average respondent’s age was 44 years old. 

Myth: E-cigarettes offer many flavours in order to attract adolescent users.

Fact: Many adult‐intended products offer a variety of flavours. The preference for flavour is universal and not age‐specific. Products of all types offer colors, flavours and other variations in order to appeal to consumers.

The claim that e-cigarettes were devised to appeal to kids is blatantly false and has no basis in fact. This is the same idea as suggesting nicotine‐infused smoking cessation gums that are available in mint and cinnamon flavours are only made in order to appeal to kids. Electronic cigarettes sold by companies in good standing are for committed smokers of the legal age to smoke.

 Myth: Electronic cigarettes make nicotine readily available to non‐smokers.

Fact: Electronic cigarettes are marketed to current smokers, not non‐smokers.

Nicotine is widely available in over‐the‐counter products including tobacco cigarettes and smoking cessation gums and lozenges and there is no evidence that these products or electronic cigarettes increase the consumption of nicotine by those who do not wish to smoke. In a recent industry study that included a random sample of US electronic cigarette customers, 96% were smokers purchasing the product for personal use, and 4% purchased the product for a friend or relative who smoked.

 Myth: No one knows what is in electronic cigarettes.

Fact: At this time nothing could be further from the truth. Multiple studies have been conducted and the ingredients are well known.

Multiple studies by different laboratories around the globe have been conducted identifying that the vapour inhaled when using an electronic cigarette is much less harmful in comparison to combustible tobacco. The e-liquid that is vaporized has 4 main ingredients which include propylene glycol vegetable glycerine flavouring and nicotine; all regarded as generally safe for human  By contrast tobacco smoke contains 4,000 ingredients including arsenic and carbon monoxide, and dozens of cancer causing ingredients.

Myth: You can stop people from smoking.

Fact: Tobacco smoking increased in the US in 2008 for the first time since 1965.

After a 30‐year decline in tobacco smoking in the U.S., the percentage of US adults who smoke tobacco increased in 2008 and for the first time since 1965; this despite decades of gallant legislative and educational efforts, and the multi‐billion dollar smoking cessation market. It is clear that some people will choose to smoke, and that further improvement in public health requires the acceptance of this reality and the full embrace of innovative new products that are ever‐less hazardous than tobacco cigarettes and ever‐more effective than abstinence.

 

Myth: Nicotine is bad for you.

Fact: The long‐term use of nicotine is orders of magnitude safer than tobacco smoking.

Nicotine suffers from guilt‐by‐association with tobacco. The carcinogenic properties of nicotine in a standalone form, separated from tobacco smoke, indicate that nicotine, on its own, does not promote the development of cancer in healthy tissue and has no mutagenic properties. Further, the Royal College of Physicians says that there are no grounds to suspect appreciable long‐term adverse effects on health from the long‐term use of nicotine. Electronic cigarette companies in good standing and with proper labelling do advise consumers on who the product is intended for and who should not use the product, as well as the addictive qualities of nicotine