iBreathe, one of the UK’s best known electronic cigarette sellers, has responded to news that e-cigs ‘do not encourage child smoking’
 

A recently released study presented at the Public Health England conference this month has discovered that there is no truth to the claim that e-cigs are driving more children to start smoking traditional tobacco products.

The study, undertaken by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and analysed by Public Health England, looked at the attitudes and habits of 4,000 people between the age of 11 and 18. Data was recorded from 2013 to 2014 and undermined often heard claims that electronic cigarettes will lead to children taking up smoking. Instead, it was found that only those with current tobacco habits are likely to try or actively use e-cigs.

Results from the study show that 90 percent of children or teenagers using e-cigarettes on an occasional or regular basis were active or ex-tobacco smokers. By comparison, 91 percent of people reported to not have used an e-cig, and only 2 percent of those who haven’t used tobacco before reported to have tried an electronic cig.

Surprisingly, and in contrast to arguments often made against e-cigs, there was not a single child who regularly used e-cigs without having first smoked tobacco.

Hazel Cheeseman, ASH director of policy, spoke to Nursing in Practice about the findings.

“One of the current – legitimate – anxieties is that young people will use electronic cigarettes as a route into nicotine and go on to using tobacco, which we know kills one in two long-term users. There are concerns that widespread use of electronic cigarettes might influence youth behaviour and lead them towards smoking.

“But this study should reassure the public that we don’t have the evidence for that at the moment. The use in young people is very low – there’s a growing level of experimentation but it doesn’t seem to be translating into large numbers of people using them. We’re just not seeing kids who have never smoked taking up electronic cigarettes,” she explained.

Cheeseman also said that a lot of claims about the dangers of e-cigs aren’t necessarily true.

“There has been a big public debate about the electronic cigarettes over the past year, and it’s interesting that our young people are getting messages about relative harm that might not be quite accurate.”

iBreathe, an Oldham-based seller of electronic cigs, e-liquids and accessories also responded to the news. A representative for their company hopes that e-cig opponents will reconsider proposed policy in light of the findings.

“These findings are very positive, especially considering they’ve come from ASH and Public Health England – two organisations who have the health of Britons in mind and are opposed to traditional tobacco products,” explained a spokesman. “It’s our hope that many of those who’ve been crying out for e-cigarettes to be legislated in the same way as tobacco will reconsider, given much of the argument against e-cigs has been built on the notion that they will lead to more children smoking, which has been shown again to be largely unfounded.”

iBreathe were also quick to highlight that they and most other sellers in the UK ‘already voluntarily refuse to sell to people under the age of 18’.

iBreathe sell throughout the UK and offer starter kits, accessories, e-liquids and more on their online shop. Visit their website today at www.i-breathe.co.uk for more information.