The alternative products that could help you quit traditional cigarettes

Now more than ever there exists an array of smokers’ products beyond the traditional cigarette. The introduction of the public smoking ban in 2007 represented a step-change for smokers and also helped lay the platform for the emergence of new products in the marketplace.

Many of these products are regarded as being healthier than the traditional cigarette, while some aren’t smoked at all. And though overall cigarette sales have dropped during the last 15 years, other products have grown from strength to strength.

E-cigarette

The e-cigarette is perhaps the best-known alternative to the traditional cigarette and the product has enjoyed a boom in popularity since the implementation of the ban 13 years ago. Today, the global vaping market is worth an estimated £15.5bn, and growing every year.

There are several recognised health benefits over normal cigarettes and, while the practice is not accepted as healthy in a general context, the absence of tar from the majority of products means smoking an e-cig is easier on the lungs.

Stores selling vaping products have sprung up all over the UK, with some even opening up in hospitals in 2019, as a means of helping people to quit smoking.

Nicotine pouches

A less well-known product but one that is certainly emerging in the marketplace, the nicotine pouch contains no tobacco. The user places a pouch between their upper lip and gum while the nicotine and selected flavour is released.

As this product involves no actual smoking, it is permitted pretty much everywhere. And while many pubs and bars have restricted the use of vapes and e-cigarettes, you won’t find yourself having to nip outside and away from friends. They are also proving popular as there are naturally no concerns around second-hand smoke in the company of family members.

Leaders in this sector include White Fox and Shiro, with online stores like the one here sprouting up at a fairly rapid rate. Pouches are available in traditional flavours including mint and eucalyptus.

Snus

Snus – pronounced ‘snoose’ – works in a similar way to nicotine pouches, except they typically contain tobacco. Like the pouches, there is no combustion involved and no physical ‘smoking’, making them a little bit more flexible for social situations.

This product is also enjoying a rise in popularity and, though neither snus nor nicotine pouches are as well known, they offer a true alternative to the traditional cigarette. And as wider society grapples with the rules around e-cigarettes, this category of product could enjoy a bright future in the UK.

Pouches, snus and e-cigarettes usually don't contain tar, which reduces their risk to your health and, particularly your lungs. And, while none of the products should be considered completely unharmful, they offer a handy alternative to the traditional cigarette.

And whether you’re trying to quit smoking or not, the new, expanded choice in the marketplace is helping consumers make more informed decisions. Some may use the products to transition away from tobacco and nicotine products completely, while others may simply enjoy discovering something new.