Government promotes vaping as smoking quit tool
Stuff reports:
Vaping is about to become a Government-recommended way for smokers to quit cigarettes.
While the campaign pushes vaping as a way to quit, it will also aim to stop non-smokers, particularly those under the age of 18, from picking up the electronic devices.
Despite being increasingly banned in public places, the use of e-cigarettes will soon be promoted as a safer alternative to smoking by the Ministry of Health.
A campaign encouraging smokers, and particularly young Māori women, to make the switch will be launched in August and a New Zealand-specific website offering vaping information and tips will go live this month.
Good to see the Government following the science and recognising that a product which is 95% less harmful than smoking should be promoted to current smokers (but not none smokers).
Ash spokesman Ben Youden said there was still a lot of confusion about vaping and many people still thought it was as bad as smoking.
While the initial outlay for equipment could vary from $50 to $100, the financial benefits quickly made up for the starting cost.
“The scientific consensus is vaping is 95 per cent less harmful that smoking cigarettes.”
“Over a year, vaping will cost about 10 per cent of what that person would have spent on cigarettes.”
Huge saving.