Vaping and tobacco trends 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014 at 10:57 The number of people using electronic cigarettes has tripled from 700,000 to 2.1 million in the past three years.
According to yesterday's Sunday Times, 'Ecigarettes full of puff as user numbers triple to 2.1m'.
I'm curious to know more about the ASH/YouGov survey mentioned but it's clear the ecig market is growing fast.
It's clear too the majority of ecig users continue to smoke. This suggests to me that vapers and advocates of ecigs who have turned their backs on tobacco and are downright hostile to smoking are in the minority and must not be allowed to set the agenda because it will only play into the hands of the tobacco control industry.
Another sign of the times is the fact that the Morning Advertiser's annual 'Tobacco Trends' has become 'Vaping and Tobacco Trends'. It includes comments by Forest on e-cigarettes and tobacco regulation in general.
To read it go to the Morning Advertiser website and click on the current digital edition. Or click here and go to page 32.
Here's our Vaping and Tobacco Trends submission in full:
Impact of the Localism Act
Since the introduction of the Localism Act, whose aim was "to devolve more decision making powers from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and councils", a number of councils have introduced policies that are designed to outlaw smoking in and around play areas and other places where children might be present.
We are concerned that in the name of public health and child protection some councils may use the Localism Act to extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas including beer gardens and existing smoking areas. This is happening in other countries, notably English-speaking nations such as Canada, Australia and parts of the United States where it is becoming harder to light up outside.
The hospitality industry needs to be conscious of this threat because for some anti-smoking campaigners a ban on smoking outside pubs is the next logical step. We can argue on the figures but the smoking ban did an enormous amount of damage to the pub industry. The British Beer and Pub Association may be reluctant to admit it, but the legislation was a significant factor in the closure of thousands of pubs after 2007.
Extending the smoking ban to outdoor areas could have a similar impact on publicans who have spent a considerable amount of money creating comfortable outdoor areas for the many customers who continue to smoke.
Electronic cigarettes
Vaping is increasingly popular among smokers, some of whom are using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid while others view them as a useful alternative to tobacco in places where they are not allowed to smoke.
Some anti-smoking campaigners want the use of e-cigarettes banned in pubs and bars. With no evidence to support their argument, they claim that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking.
Proprietors must be allowed to decide their own policy on e-cigarettes. If they choose to ban e-cigs that's their right but we believe they would be misguided to do so.
Some pubs have banned e-cigarettes on the grounds that they "look like cigarettes". That's like saying water should be banned because it looks like vodka.
E-cigarettes are still in their infancy but as more people use them more people will get used to them and see them for what they are. A simple sign above the bar – 'Vaping allowed here' – will make it clear to customers that people are vaping not smoking.
Smokers know that by lighting up in a bar they put the owner at risk of a fine or worse. That's why the smoking ban was self-regulated. There is no evidence to suggest that people will start smoking in pubs if someone is vaping.
Instead of joining the chorus of disapproval for e-cigarettes, publicans should support their use and defend their freedom to choose a policy that best suits the interests of their staff and customers.
E-cigarettes are an opportunity not a threat. By embracing the use of e-cigarettes publicans have the chance to bring many smokers back in from the cold. That is a business opportunity that should not be wasted.
Smoking shelters
Despite the rise of e-cigarettes, smokers still outnumber vapers by a substantial margin and many vapers are dual use consumers who continue to smoke and don't want to quit.
There are many examples of proprietors spending money on comfortable outdoor smoking shelters and we hope this trend will continue. A well designed smoking area with heating, tables, chairs, even a sofa or two, and an awning is a major attraction not just for smokers but also for their partners and friends.
It may not be politically correct to say so but for a great many people smoking and drinking still go together. In the words of internationally famous artist David Hockney "pubs aren't health clubs" and publicans would be foolish to forget that. A good pub should be an oasis from the stresses of modern life and landlords owe it to their customers not to side with the hectoring public health lobby in areas such as food, drink and tobacco.
For many of us pubs are places where adults go to relax and unwind. The shrill voice of the puritanical health brigade has no place in Britain's pubs and bars but the industry has to take a stand and say so, without equivocation. If they do that they can be assured of a huge amount of goodwill and support from ordinary people, smokers and non-smokers alike.
Reader Comments (5)
My immediate response is that I,m totally amazed that they,ve found over 12,000 smokers to ask the question to. Been a member of yougov for years and after the initial 2/3 surveys,
requiring a response as to whether I am a smoker or not, I can confirm that I NEVER EVER receive any surveys which require an answer on anything ' smoking ' related.
Good piece, Simon, but going on past experience, do you think the supine bar and pub industry is going to get up off its knees and fight any further extensions to the ban? I'll be amazed if they do!
Funny, that, Sheila. I have two YouGov personae and I have received quite a lot of surveys with smoking question. YouGov seem to slip these questions in towards the end of surveys mostly about other matters.
I answered questions about smoking and vaping not long ago (presumably, the survey which is referred to in the article). Oddly, the survey was duplicated on one of my personae and triplicated on the other! I too am a 'dual user' (ostensibly).
I think that being a dual user really messes up ASH's prognostications in that they can neither say that vaping leads to smoking nor that it is being used exclusively for cessation purposes. That amuses me no end.
@Junican - I'd be interested in whether the question was asked if vapers were smokers or non-smokers who took up vaping: this must be, after all, crucial to their fears of vaping as a gateway to The Dark Side. Either the question would never be asked in a YouGov survey because they suspect that the answer would not verify their 'concerns' or the question was asked but so few in the sample said that as non-smokers they'd taken up vaping that the results couldn't even be quantified.
Very good piece, Simon. The smart publican will not only allow vaping but will advertise the fact with the 'vaping allowed' sign, and those confused souls who can't literally see the difference between smoking and vaping will have a little sign to tell them. Heck, between a 'comfortable' smoking area outside and vaping inside, they might even get their customers back. Of course, if they've gone down the Family Friendly, Children Eat Free, Buy One Orange Squash, Get One Free route they will have no need of them.
@Joyce.
There were three separate questions. Roughly, they were:
1. Do you smoke: a bit, more than a bit, every day, not at all.
(My answer was every day)
2. Do you use an ecig:
Yes, have tried one in the last year, have tried one over a year ago, never tried.
(My answer was 'Yes', fibbing)
3. Are you considering quitting smoking in the next 3 months.
(My answer was 'No')
I have an e-cig but use it very rarely.
It was weird that I got the same survey five times.