Smokers in Birmingham who make the switch to vaping are saving money, feel healthier and see benefits to their social lives according to a new study published today.
The study, conducted by OnePoll, shows that smokers who switch to vaping say that the best things for them about making the switch are that they feel healthier (45%), have more money (45%) and more confident in social circles (21%).
Vapers are saving on average £235 per year by making the switch. While some are using the money to put into savings (25%) and towards holidays (34%), Birmingham vapers are most likely to have to use the money to pay for basic essentials like household groceries (37%) or to put it towards paying bills (28%).
The survey findings were revealed at the launch of VApril, a month-long education campaign, fronted by TV’s Dr Christian Jessen to encourage smokers to make the switch to vaping.
John Dunne a director of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), which commissioned the research and organises VApril, said: “There are still almost 7million smokers in the UK that are yet to see the benefits of switching on to vaping. The vapers that we have spoken to would not look back after making the switch and would overwhelmingly recommend switching to vaping to other smokers too. “That’s why we are running the VApril campaign, to educate smokers about the benefits they can see from vaping. We’re also hoping to educate the wider public about the differences between vaping and smoking so that they can provide vapers with the support to make the switch.”
Launching the campaign, Dr Christian, famous for his work on Channel 4’s ‘Embarrassing bodies’, said: “There are now more than three million vapers in the UK who have made that life changing decision to switch from smoking. As today’s study shows, there are whole raft of benefits to making the switch, not just on smokers’ health but financial and social benefits too. But yet, according to Public Health England, an incredible 40% of smokers have never even tried vaping.
He added: “We’re in danger of missing out on the huge public health prize of a smoke-free society if the medical profession doesn’t start encouraging smokers to take up vaping. Vaping has so far helped 3.2m vapers either quit or reduce smoking, saving the NHS billions in treating those with smoking related health conditions.
“There is a growing bank of evidence which shows it can reduce smoking relating harm and yet despite that, more than half of hospitals across the UK ban vaping on their grounds. It’s time we were consistent and gave clear advice to smokers to help combat the misinformation they are all too often bombarded with about vaping.”
Two-thirds of vapers (66%) said that they never thought they would quit smoking until vaping came along, with many having tried a variety of other nicotine replacement tools like patches (39%) and gum (40%).
Vaper Craig Hibbert, who is backing the VApril campaign said: “I started smoking at about 18 and up until five years ago I smoked 20 small cigars a day. I switched to vaping as part of a health programme and haven’t looked back. I remember saying to my mother in law that very soon after switching I could inhale for the first time and fill my lungs with air.
“Now my son and his girlfriend are making the switch from smoking to vaping too, because they’ve seen the benefits that it’s given me. I really would encourage smokers to think about making the switch to vaping, and during VApril is a great time to do it because of the extra support that’s available, especially in the West Midlands.”
Smokers who want to make the switch as part of the VApril campaign, should go to www.vapril.org and download the ‘Switch on to Vaping’ guide, that has been developed by vapers, for smokers, thanks to the independent charity the New Nicotine Alliance.
