An excellent radio program from earlier this year called ‘Inside Health’ discussing the implications of electronic cigarettes. For once, this discussion is actually very fair. Just so you know, the ecigarette discussion ends at about the 20 minute mark.

BBC Radio 4 Electronic Cigarette Broadcast

So what do you think? What are your views about ecigarettes, whether positive or negative? Let us know.

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Kit Prices: $29.95 – $189.95
Flavors: 14
Nicotine Levels: 4 – 18mg, 12mg, 6mg, and 0mg
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Overall Rating:

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THE REVIEW:

For my first review of an ecigarette in 2012 I wanted to try something a little different, so I chose V2′s USB-powered Power-Cig. Since it just plugs into your computer, I didn’t have to charge the device for the customary 24-hour period first, which was another first for me. This ecig was a very welcome surprise, and absolutely knocked my socks off from the very first puff. I literally started having a coughing fit because the vapor cloud was so huge! ‘Amazing’ is the only thing I can say. I’ve never tried another e cigarette with a traditional battery that comes close to this thing. In fact, a LOT of tobacco cigarettes don’t even come close to producing this much real smoke!

Felt great in the mouth, in the throat, and expanded beautifully into my lungs. Definitely the most realistic ‘smoking’ experience I’ve seen or felt yet. A huge congratulations to V2 for this product.

It’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the design and construction of the V2 USB electronic cigarette. The construction is definitely top-notch, but yet it’s not heavy in the least.

Each kit comes with:

• 1 USB-powered Lithium Ion Battery with attached USB cable*
• 5 Nicotine Cartridges – Equals 5 Packs of Cigarettes (Choice of Flavor & Strength)
• 1 Instruction Booklet
• 1 Coupon for 15% off my next order

* The battery is a standard 2-piece design with an attached 3-foot cable, exactly as pictured above.

I also ordered a sample pack of cartridges so I could check out each of the 10 flavors individually.

PROS:

* Never needs charging! Just plug into any USB port and puff away.

* No gradual decrease in battery power means uniform puffs every time.

* Completely portable. With the optional accessories you can plug in virtually anywhere.

* A Very Affordable Ecigarette – This V2 usb-powered electronic cigarette sells for only $34.95, making it one of the cheapest on the market considering it’s quality of workmanship.

* 30-Day Money Back Guarantee – If you’re not happy with V2 e-cigarettes for any reason, you can return them within 30 days.

* Lifetime Replacement of your battery.

* High Capacity Cartridges – A V2 e-cigarette cartridge is equivalent to approximately 1 pack of cigarettes. As usual, though, how long an electric cigarette cartridge lasts depends on the smoking habits of the user, regardless of the brand involved. I was a pack a day smoker, and 1 cartridge typically lasts me for about a day.

* New Atomizer with Each Cartridge – You never need to replace the atomizer/vaporizer with V2 e-cigs because each cartridge has a new, fresh atomizer.

* Flavors – Currently, there are 14 flavors of V2 e-cigarettes: Red (Cowboy), Congress, Coffee, Peppermint, Fresh Mint, Sahara, Chocolate, Cola, Cherry, Sweet Grape, Mint Tea and Vanilla, as well as the traditional Regular and Menthol. For those that want to try each of them, they also offer a sampler pack that includes one cartridge of each flavor. V2 has definite plans to announce new ecigarette cartridge flavors in the near future, as well.

CONS:

I have to say I was not impressed with a number of the flavors. The flavors that were supposed to be derivatives of Marlboro, Camel, Salem, etc., were far off the mark, some downright unbearable, in my opinion. I instantly took a liking to the coffee and sweet mint flavors, however, which is strange considering I typically hate coffee and mint. Chocolate and vanilla were good, as well, but for some reason each time I used one I would start noticing drag problems.

If I switched immediately to either a coffee or mint cartridge, everything would go back to normal immediately. Smoke a chocolate and a vanilla each in a row, however, and it would start burning up the cartridges in half the time. Switch back to a coffee or mint, and within a few puffs it was back to normal. Go figure! I thought it could be possible that the 2 flavors were just old or bad batches, but the same thing has happened to me with every batch of them I’ve ordered since.

V2 Ecigs does, however, offer a cartridge adaptor, which allows you to use a V2 battery with virtually any other brand of electronic cigarette cartridge, which could prove to be helpful if you decide to shop elsewhere for your favorite flavors.

The other thing that was a nuisance was the fact that, due to the cord needing to be constantly connected to a USB source, I was very limited on where and when I could vape with it. If you don’t mind putting down a few extra dollars, V2 has accessories to overcome this, as well, though.

But no worries for me, really. Luckily, I still have my SmokeTip ecigs to get me through the rough times.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Both of these things aside, though, I still think the V2 is an excellent electronic cigarette and, if you can find a flavor(s) you can stick with, I would highly recommend it to anyone. Until or unless I say differently here, this is now my daily go-to ecigarette at the office. I am highly impressed:)

Click here to compare V2 Ecigarettes with GreenSmoke, Njoy, and Blu

This article is by Paul Bergen of tobaccoharmreduction.org and is reprinted here for discussion purposes only:

Editor’s Note: This really has nothing to do with electronic or tobacco cigarettes at all, but it is still both very amusing and informative. I’m pretty sure everyone will enjoy this:

Electronic cigarettes come in at a time when the ways of using tobacco and/or nicotine today don’t exhibit quite the imagination when compared to days of yore.

Nowadays the choices are: inhaling, chewing and/or a little bit of snuffing.

Just a few mere centuries ago, the range included drinking liquids of steeped tobacco leaves, applying tobacco poultices, and engaging in enemas. Typically the last 2 were reserved in treating medical conditions and the last, tobacco enemas, was embraced by Europeans as a legitimate medical treatment and actually persisted for quite some time.

Since American Indians employed enemas in their medical treatments even before contact, the Europeans followed. And just as Europeans appropriated the consumption of tobacco by smoking pipes, cigars and snuffing, so too they introduced the practice of using tobacco smoke in rectal devices known as clysters….

The tobacco clyster, using either smoke or an infusion, depending on whose authority was being followed, was widely practiced well into the nineteenth century..Tobacco clysters were used in the hopes of treating ailments of the colon and the bowel. They were also recommended in attempts to resuscitate drowned individuals, as well as those who had suffocated, had convulsions and fits, or were frozen. (pgs 84-5: Goodman’s Tobacco in History)

You can see the bellows for the smoke in the fancy kit above.

Reading this passage reminded me of reading another years ago in an alternative health guide suggesting that, if someone was having a heart attack, you should immediately force a tablespoon of cayenne powder down their throat. Rather than sounding like good advice it sounded more like adding insult to injury (though having your tongue on fire might distract you from the chest pains).

Though today there is a thriving business in colonics, nobody seems to be working very hard to bring back the smoke enema. If they should, the anti-smoking folks would have to go back to the word farm to come up with a catchy term for the health risk… or would they be happy to leave it as ‘first-hand smoke’ (of which it neither, of course)?

No doubt once you’ve unclenched your kiester after getting your clyster you would be endangering the others in the vicinity with a lesser-known variation of second-hand smoke.

As the world strives to become a safer, eco-friendly place to live in, many nations are taking big steps to promote a healthier public environment. Just take a look at all of the places where smoking has been outlawed in public places and think to yourself: If smoking isn’t that bad for you, would all these countries be taking the same action?

Smoking tobacco is harmful, even as second-hand smoke. Here is a list of all of the places that have enacted bans or restrictions regarding cigarette smoking in public places:

Albania

On May 26, 2007, the country passed a law that banned smoking in closed public areas and also outlawed tobacco advertising.

Andorra

Smoking is banned in government buildings, public buses, and educational facilities.

Argentina

Buenos Aires banned smoking in 2006 in public areas, with some restrictions worth pointing out. Smoking is sectioned off in some cities, where the bar or restaurant owners have to make separate smoking areas.

Armenia

A March 2005 law banned smoking in hospitals, educational, cultural and mental institutions. It also banned smoking on public transportation. This ban was later updated to require public and private institutions to section off areas where people can smoke out of the harmful way of others.

Australia

There are many State-to-State rules, but in short, there has been an overwhelming movement to get rid of smoking in public areas.

Austria

Austria has updated it’s policy to basically state that any establishment over 80 m2 has to have sectional smoking.

Bahrain

Bahrain outlawed smoking in public places on 27 February 2008.

Belgium

Current ban is in effect in any area where food is served.

Bermuda

Workplaces, bars, restaurants, and clubs all outlawed smoking.

Bhutan

After a lengthy struggle since 2005, many policies have been installed, only to eventually be repealed. There have been prison terms for people SELLING tobacco in Bhutan, so you can see this is a very serious issue.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Smoking is banned in public buildings dating back to 2007.

Brazil

Sectional smoking as well as bans in public places.

Bulgaria

Banned in all indoor establishments except bars and restaurants.

Canada

Smoking is banned in all territories and provinces at last time of reviewing Canada’s smoking rules.

Chile

Sectional smoking in most circumstances.

China

Smoking is banned about everywhere in China except restaurants.

Colombia

Indoor work environments and public places are smoke free, and Colombia is very strict in it’s rules towards advertising to minors.

Croatia

There are some strict rules in Croatia, but the main idea is that establishments that meet strict criteria have to use ventilation systems in order to control their environment.

Cuba

Most work places in Cuba have outlawed smoking, and there are very strict rules on where tobacco can even be sold.

Cyprus

Banned everywhere.

Czech Republic

Regulated smoking, very complicated to report.

Denmark

Sectional smoking with some parameters.

Ecuador

Ecuador is a big smoking nation, and while there are signs in certain areas where smoking is allowed, it’s routinely ignored from all reports.

Estonia

Sectional Smoking.

Faroe Islands

Banned.

Finland

Last report says Finland plans on outlawing smoking entirely.

France

Sectional smoking with some rules.

Germany

Rules are in place, but according to reports, not really enforced.

Greece

Update coming soon.

Guatemala

Banned in public establishments.

Hong Kong

Very complex rules, fines, and regulations, but bottom line, smoking is closely governed.

Hungary

Smoking has been banned for several years in public establishments.

Iceland

Banned.

India

In India, you can basically smoke inside your own home or car to be safe. Anything else has rules.

Indonesia

Banned with a few parameters.

Ireland

Banned.

Isle of Man

Banned. Even in prison.

Israel

Sectional smoking and strict bans.

Italy

Italy was one of the first nations to adopt no-smoking policies, and has rules based on sectional smoking.

Japan

Rules vary, but for the most part, it’s difficult to smoke anywhere in public.

Kazakhstan

Full smoking ban.

Kenya

Banned.

Latvia

Banned.

Lithuania

Banned, except for in specialized smoking bars.

Luxembourg

Banned except for in “snack bars.”

Macedonia

Banned unless you are in your own home.

Madagascar

Banned in airports, clubs, and bars.

Malta

Sectional smoking.

Malaysia

Banned.

Mexico

Banned.

Monaco

Banned, but you can smoke in bars, nightclubs, or other late night spots.

Montenegro

Banned.

Morocco

Banned.

Mozambique

Banned, with some sectional smoking.

Namibia

Banned.

Netherlands

Banned, with some loose interpretations.

New Zealand

Banned.

Niger

Banned.

Nigeria

Banned.

Northern Ireland

Banned with big fines for people who violate the rules.

Norway

Banned.

Paraguay

Banned.

Philippines

For the most part, banned.

Poland

Small bars can sometimes be allowed, but other than that, its’ banned.

Portugal

Banned, with some restrictions in regards to people who use ventilation.

Russia

Unkown.

Scotland

Various rules make smoking illegal in restaurants and public places, with restrictions.

Slovenia

Banned with some parameters for people that do want to allow smoking.

South Africa

Unknown.

Spain

Banned.

Sweden

Sectional Smoking

Switzerland

Banned with State to State variations.,

Thailand

Banned.

Turkey

Banned.

Uganda

Banned.

United Arab Emirates

Banned.

United Kingdom

Banned.

United States

State-by-State rules differ, but anyone in the USA can attest that smoking is generally outlawed in public places.

Uruguay

Sectional smoking.

Vatican City

Banned.

Vietnam

Banned everywhere imaginable.

Wales

Smoking is banned across public premises.

Zambia

Smoking is prohibited in public places and is enforced with a huge fine and a possible two year prison term.

 

Electronic cigarettes have been widely used in Europe since 2006 and recently become very popular in the United States. Despite their wide distribution, there are still many who don’t know much about the product, including legislators, employers and general curious onlookers. One of the major benefits of smoking electronic cigarettes is that they can be used indoors and in public places without the negative impact of second-hand smoke and the offensive lingering odor of traditional cigarettes. However, the drawback is that they are so realistic, some people may think you are smoking a traditional cigarettes. Here are some simple ways to explain e-cigarettes to curious onlookers.

It’s common for e-cigarette smokers to have people come up to them in restaurants or other public places and ask, what is that you are smoking? Most of the time people are extremely pleasant in their requests, while others who mistake the product for a traditional cigarette, can be unpleasant. If you want to use your e-cigarettes in the work place or other regularly visited public places, it may be worth the effort to explain to the manager how your e-cigarette works.

It’s important to let them know that the electronic cigarette doesn’t use combustion to create its liquid vapor which is different from smoke. The act of vaporizing liquid is far less intrusive to others than combusted smoke from a traditional cigarette. In fact, the vaporized liquid nicotine is odorless and dissipates in the air before having the chance to reach others. This makes the e-cigarette non-intrusive and perfectly fine to use in a public area or even confined spaces like an elevator or car.

Explaining what exactly your e-cigarette is to others can help you go about using your e-cigarette without attracting unwanted attention. It also helps people understand why e-cigarettes are important to e-cig smokers. Though studies are still pending on whether or not e-cigarette improve the quality of your overall health, it’s certain that they improve a smokers quality of life by providing them with a more convenient and hygienic smoking habit.