According to new industry data collected by online e-cigarette retailers, which account for about 43% of the UK market, a large number of elderly people are users of disposable and flavored e-cigarettes. This is the focus of a government consultation that will end on December 6th, aimed at addressing the issue of young people smoking e-cigarettes.
The tobacco industry has warned that any measures to ban disposable e-cigarettes and spices will have catastrophic consequences for the country's public health and will effectively end any opportunities to create a smoke-free generation in the near future. Over the past two years, e-cigarettes and spices have been key drivers of record low smoking rates in the UK.
The sales data of the four leading online retailers in the UK (accounting for nearly a quarter of the UK market) in the previous quarter showed:
The most popular flavor among middle-aged people (35-44 years old) is "fruit", followed by "snacks and desserts";
The highest proportion of tobacco essence use was in the age group over 55 years old;
Mint and tobacco flavors are not very popular among middle-aged people;
The average age of adult disposable product users is 39 years old.
Fluum 15000 is a very popular electronic cigarette.
The latest adult e-cigarette statistics were obtained after a survey conducted by One Poll earlier this year, which showed that 83% of e-cigarette users said that taste helps them quit smoking, and one-third of people said that banning taste would make them smoke traditional cigarettes again, representing about 1.5 million former smokers.
Dan Marchant, co owner of online retailer Vape Club, said, "These statistics indicate that people in our industry already know that those flavors and disposable e-cigarettes are now under government scrutiny because the government wants to solve the problem of young people smoking e-cigarettes, which are the lifeline of former adult smokers." Vape Club provides population sales data.
"The legitimate e-cigarette industry fully recognizes the need to address the issue of teenagers' use of e-cigarettes, but it should not be completely banned as it affects adults who rely on e-cigarettes. As retailers selling e-cigarettes to minors is illegal, people under the age of 18 have been banned from using e-cigarettes. That is why the industry is calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws, imposing fines of up to £ 10000 ($12631) for each violation, and introducing retail licensing programs to eliminate rogue traders."
UKVIA Director General John Dunn asked, "Why did 4.5 million adults spend years trying to quit this habit that causes 250 deaths per day and successfully quit it through e-cigarettes, but risk losing their lives?"
"If the government continues down the path of banning disposable e-cigarettes and/or flavors, current e-cigarette users are likely to smoke again, which will have catastrophic consequences for the country's public health and undermine any opportunities for the government's smoke-free ambitions. The only potential winners of any potential ban on the e-cigarette industry are the tobacco industry and the illegal market, which no sane minded person would want to see."