Archive for the ‘Smoking’ Category
Cost of Smoking in the UK
November 25, 2010
Smoking in the UK costs the average smoker £2250 per year just for cigarettes and a typical brand of tobacco cigarettes is now £6.28 a pack. With taxation increases on tobacco every year, it’s only ever going to be more expensive for tobacco smokers and the probability of 20 cigarettes hitting £7.00 could be sooner than anticipated.
Tobacco is one of easiest ways of raising extra revenue and as the UK as part of of Europe and is still suffering economically, it is likely the cost of smoking will increase in 2011 to claw in extra money. Such a drastic increase will in turn put the cost of tobacco out of the reach of smokers on salaries less than the UK average.
Tobacco smokers who do not want to quit the habit will be better off looking at electronic cigarettes as an alternative. The electronic cigarette delivers the same pleasure as smoking, but is tobacco free and not subject to tobacco taxation. A refill for the electronic cigarette is equal to around 40 cigarettes and costs just £2. This brings a saving of £2000 per year to a typical tobacco cigarette smoker. A basic stater kit is available for only £9.99 and this even includes 80 cigarettes worth of refills. Check our Shop for more details.
posted in Smoking
UAE Dubai Airport Smoking Cigarettes Second-Hand Smoke
July 5, 2010
Tobacco cigarette smokers complain about the smoking ban in the UK, but is it that bad?
As an ex-cigarette smoker myself, I remember how it was before the smoking ban in the UK. Smoking was allowed in pubs and even in restaurants. When I was a teenager, you could light up a cigarette on the top deck of the bus, legally. But, I also remember the clouds of tobacco smoke on the bus and in pubs and it was unpleasant after a few minutes.
Looking back to my youth reminded me of Dubai airport. Dubai could have the strictest laws in the world and yet smoking is still allowed in designated areas inside the modern, luxury airport. Anyone who smokes and has passed through Dubai can relate to the issue of second-hand smoke! Just step inside the airport smoking room and you suddenly lose the urge to light up as all your efforts go into breathing and keeping conscious. Through the dense tobacco fog you can make out the glowing cigarette tips, emitting cloud upon cloud of toxic smoke. The craving finally take overs and you light up, even though you have just inhaled the smoke from 200 cigarettes. After 5 or 6 puffs you know it’s time to get out. While it’s still possible, and while you are upright, you brave the tobacco fog gasping for air and somehow find the door.
Millions of travellers passing through Dubai who are smokers, are grateful for this small pleasure despite exposure to second-hand smoke in the extreme.
There should be a review of the smoking ban here in the UK, especially for pubs, clubs and bingo places. Dedicated smoking rooms with adequate air extraction could be made available. That said, I would rather pubs remain smoke-free than return to the days when you couldn’t see the bar for tobacco smoke.
The electronic cigarette smoke-free alternative from VIP Electronic Cigarette
posted in Smoking
Mild, Light and Low Tar Cigarettes to be Banned
June 16, 2010
Light or mild cigarettes are the most popular selling tobacco cigarettes and are set to be phased out as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
Tobacco companies pushed certain cigarettes as ‘light, mild or low tar,’ insinuating these are healthier than regular full strength cigarettes. Consumers believe falsely that they are smoking less harmful cigarettes. However, research has shown that so-called low, mild and light cigarettes are just as harmful.
Anti-smoking groups and smoking awareness organisations such as the American Lung Association are hoping smokers will see this as a good time to quit.
Many people are unaware that it is the toxic smoke itself which is harmful and not the nicotine. People who smoke tobacco mild, light or low tar cigarettes are still inhaling the thousands of toxins from tobacco smoke.
By comparison, the electronic cigarette does not burn any substance and the user does not inhale any physical smoke. Electronic smoking allows the inhaling of a flavoured nicotine vapor given the appearance of smoke, but in reality this mist like vapor is more comparable to steam from a kettle.
You can order an electronic cigarette starter kit from our shop : VIP Electronic Cigarette Shop
posted in Smoking
Taxi Company Wants Drivers to Quit Smoking
June 15, 2010
A New Zealand taxi firm is pressing it’s drivers who smoke to quit the habit.
United Taxis, in Dunedin, has launched a smoke-free policy, warning drivers not to smoke in taxis, near the vehicle, or even on the firm’s premises. Complaints from customers about the smell of smoke in taxis, and customers requesting a non-smoking driver urged the owner to take action.
Drivers caught smoking would be fined $50 the first time and $100 the second time. A third breach would result in termination of their contract.
Smoking in taxis is prohibited, but drivers do not always abide by the law.
In the UK smoking is prohibited in taxi and private hire vehicles. However, drivers are permitted by law to smoke electronic cigarettes. VIP attended the PHTM show last year and supplied electronic cigarette starter kits to private hire and taxi drivers.
posted in Smoking
Smokers Under Surveillance from Council
June 14, 2010
Councils carried out more than 8,500 snooping operations on members of the public during the past two years.
Surveillance involved spying on dog owners, fly tippers and loan sharks. Secret operations also took place against smokers, suspected benefit fraudsters, vagrants buying alcohol for under-18s and people repairing vehicles in the street. Figures show 11 surveillance operations every day over the past two years despite attempts to curb councils’ use of surveillance powers.
Many people will agree that the cigarette butts littering our streets and pavements are a big problem, but very few would support the council in the ‘Big Brother’ approach. This invasive information gathering is not tackling the problem at the source.
posted in Smoking
Parents Face Smoking Ban at Home
April 14, 2010
Passive smoking or second-hand smoke is the main concern here. Health and anti-smoking groups have been urging the government to take action on smoking and only in recent years has action been taken by way of the Health Act 2006 (Smoking Ban). Passive smoking claims the lives of over 600,000 people a year. Children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to develop lung and breathing difficulties and have a higher risk of development problems. Doctors state that 15,000 children a year develop asthma due to parents’ smoking. Panorama showed children being treated at Alder Hey in Liverpool, the busiest children’s hospital in Europe. Some of the children were being treated ended up in hospital because they were exposed to their parents’ smoking. Despite this many parents simply refuse to accept these health warnings and are putting the lives of their children in danger.
A more aggressive anti-smoking campaign is being backed by ministers and is targeting parents at home. This is a ban on parents smoking in front of children. Those against the campaign claim that such government control will lead to further interference in our own homes. How this would be enforced is still under debate, if at all feasable.
Electronic cigarettes do no emit passive smoke and they unaffected by the Health Act and smoking ban. However, VIP agrees that parents should not smoke anything, including an electronic cigarette, in front of children.
posted in Smoking
