The results of the study are based on the 2010 world smoking population estimate, which stood at around 794 million smokers, equating to a global smoking rate of 24 percent. The researchers then utilised WHO data of smoking rates in the 60 countries which make up 85% of the world’s smoking population. These countries include China, Indonesia, India, the USA and the Russian Federation. According to the researchers’ calculations, the global smoking rate would fall to just under 23% in 2020 and to 22% in 2030 if governments in the studied countries took no further action to implement the WHO’s tobacco control measures.

Such measures, known collectively as MPOWER, include intervention to help people quit, warnings about the danger of tobacco products and bans on tobacco advertising/promotions.

In addition to improving health, the report suggests that the more widespread adoption of WHO measures could also prevent millions of deaths worldwide. The report’s authors commented: “As approximately half of lifetime smokers die of tobacco related diseases, implementation of MPOWER would prevent many millions of premature tobacco related deaths”.

The report from the charity was based on the responses from 8 focus groups of 15 year olds. The study found that children are drawn to the attractiveness of the packaging used for cigarettes.

 Cancer Research criticise the design of packets of cigarettes on the market, saying some have been designed to look like perfume bottles, designed to carry a feeling of sophistication and femininity to specifically target a young female market, the charity’s report claimed. According to ‘The Packaging of Tobacco Products’ report, the use of such designs and colours detracts away from the health warnings on packets of cigarettes.

Tobacco companies were also criticised for using other underhand tactics, such as making packets look like they contain more cigarettes than they actually do whilst still changing the same price.

Jean King from Cancer Research UK commented: "Children are drawn to the colourful and slick designs without having a full understanding of how deadly the product is inside the pack. It is time to end the packet racket."

The report comes just a few days after the government announced the launch of their consultation on the packaging of cigarettes. 

The results of the study come from interviews of over two thousand workers in the UK across a variety of occupations, including teachers, office workers, construction workers and health professionals. According to the survey, one in three workers said they would volunteer to undertake additional tasks outside of their role if it meant they had an opportunity to have a cigarette break. Common errands include going to the shop to buy milk and taking the post.

Respondents to the survey indicated that the most common reason for wanting to take a cigarette break was ‘stress’, followed very closely by ‘wanting a break’ from work. The study found that a smoker who smokes between 16 and 20 cigarettes a day takes an average of 4 cigarettes breaks during work time, with each break lasting around 6 minutes.

When it comes to choosing the time to take a break, it seems that weather is a key factor. Over half of the respondents of the survey reported that bad weather would put them off or delay them from taking a cigarette break. 

A recent article on the website PublicServiceEurope.com has suggested that Germany is ‘stuck in the early years of the century’ when it comes to policies on smoking and cigarettes. Indeed, in stark contrast to the UK and the majority of the world’s developed countries, some forms of tobacco advertising are still within the law in Germany. Billboard and poster advertising for cigarettes is perfectly legal and adverts for tobacco are allowed to be screened in cinemas after 6pm.

Tobacco companies are also widely utilising the internet to promote cigarettes in the country.

Another notable difference between the German and UK policies on smoking is the lack of a clearly defined and widespread ban on smoking in public places. Bars and restaurants in Germany can opt to cater for smokers, apart from in the two states of the country that have implemented comprehensive bans.

So as a country known for leading the way in such matters, why is it that Germany lags so far behind when it comes to anti-smoking policies?

One school of thought for why Germany is seemingly reluctant to catch up with modern thinking and policies when it comes to smoking is the level of income the government generates from taxation on cigarettes. Tobacco is thought to generate 14 billion Euros in taxes on an annual basis, making tobacco one of the most important industries in the country.  Martina Pötschke-Langer of the German Cancer Research Centre commented: "There are long-term relationships between the tobacco industry, the politicians and the parties. The ministry of health is not as important as the ministry of economic and financial affairs."

Although only a small number of packets of cigarettes were reportedly sent out to ‘influential’ people in the media, lobbyists and politicians, the organisation have faced heavy criticism, especially since the charity is funded with taxpayers’ money. The campaign packs including the cigarette packets reportedly cost £20 each to post out.

Tobacco Free Futures, Formerly known as Smoke Free North West is based in Liverpool, a city which has the highest rate of smoking-related lung cancer and heart disease deaths in England.

Tobacco Free Futures have defended the campaign, saying that sending out packets of cigarettes was essential to get their point regarding how the packaging of cigarettes can influence people’s decision to purchase.

The campaign has hit the headlines in the same week that the government launched a consultation into the packaging of cigarettes in England. The coalition are considering whether bringing a law, which would make it illegal for packets of cigarettes to carry and branding, design, colours or logos, into force. A similar law is set to launch in Australia later on this year. 

During the speech, Lansley said: “The culture is about moving to a place where tobacco and smoking isn't part of normal life: people don't encounter it normally, they don't see it in their big supermarkets, they don't see people smoking in public places, they don't see tobacco vending machines”.

Since the smoking ban which was passed by parliament in 2006 came into force, there have been a number of further new laws introduced by the government; all of which have set out with the aim to further crack down on the sale of cigarettes. Such measures include the ban on the sale of cigarettes from vending machines in pubs and the recent ban on tobacco displays.

Despite criticism from pro-smoking groups, who claim there is little evidence to support the new moves, the government assert that reducing the visibility of cigarettes on sale will not only help people who are trying to quit smoking, but will also discourage young people from taking up smoking in the first place. 

The article ‘Cigarettes vs. E-cigarettes : Which is Less Harmful’ discusses how cigarette butts, which are still regularly discarded by smokers on pavements and out of car windows, cause not only an unsightly litter problem, but also form a toxic hazard to the environment.

The article explains how cigarette butts can take up to ten years to decompose and can leach chemicals including tar and nicotine, which if washed into the sea or coming into contact with other plant or animal life, can be very harmful. The article’s author, Brian Clark Howard, comments on how electronic cigarettes could help to reduce this problem due to their re-usable nature.

In addition to the re-usable and therefore eco-friendly properties of electronic cigarettes, the other environmental benefit they have over conventional cigarettes is the exhaled ‘smoke’. Not only does the exhaled ‘smoke’ from e-cigs not have the same lingering smell associated with smoking, the vapour exhaled also poses much less of a health risk to anyone inhaling it as ‘passive smoke’. This is because the exhaled vapour from electronic cigarettes is not chemical-ridden like that from conventional cigarettes, but is actually only water vapour; produced as a by-product of the process of heating the nicotine in the e-cig.

Find out more information about how ecigarettes work

Perhaps Ms Cole could benefit from making the switch to electronic cigarettes if she is finding it hard to quit altogether. The E cigarette is an alternative form of smoking that does not contain the vast majority of chemicals contained in smoke inhaled from conventional cigarettes.

Tobacco, which is widely associated with voice problems including irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx and reduced lung function, an element which is of course important for controlling the voice whilst singing, is not present in electronic cigarettes.

Some smokers who are trying to quit cigarettes altogether can find that electronic cigarettes are a useful aid to assist in quitting smoking. Whilst initially acting as a replacement for cigarettes (electronic cigarettes replicate conventional cigarettes in shape and size, and nicotine content), the amount of nicotine taken into the body by means of electronic cigarettes can be controlled effectively; via the different strengths of cartridge available; therefore allowing smokers to slowly wean themselves off all forms of cigarettes altogether.  

During the study over 2500 smokers who were trying to quit were followed over the course of a year. The smokers were split into four groups, each of which was offered different methods and levels of support to help them quit smoking. Each group received the standard services offered by the NHS Stop Smoking Services, including advice, emails and access to a helpline, but three groups were also offered ‘additional’ help in the form of an intensive course of counselling, free nicotine replacement patches, or a combination of the two.

The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference in the quitting smoking success rate between the different groups.

Professor Tim Coleman of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies said “on the basis of this study, giving out free nicotine patches and more intensive telephone counselling through the English national quitline just doesn't seem to work.”

In the light of the results of the study, the Department of Health has said that it will no longer offer additional support services to people trying to quit smoking.

In the report, Professor Graham likened the view towards smokers in society to the way indigenous groups and migrants had been viewed in the past; as threatening and potentially contaminating. In the study, non-smokers who were questioned described smoking as ‘a disgusting habit’.

Her report also goes on to claim that due to this increasing view, the poorest groups in society, who are those most likely to smoke, are being further marginalised and disadvantaged.

Although Professor Graham praised the reduction in smoking levels over the past 60 years, (around 21% of the UK population currently smoke as opposed to around 80% in the 1950’s) she argues that anti-smoking campaigns need to be reviewed to ensure that smokers on low incomes are not being ignored, but are actively being helped.

“The history of public health is scarred by policies which, pursued in the name of health protection and promotion, have served to intensify public vilification and state-sanctioned discrimination against already disadvantaged groups”, commented Professor Graham in the study.

This latest increase in price confirms that the price of cigarettes shows no signs of slowing. Taking into account the recent budget announcement, the price of cigarettes has gone up by over 80 pence per packet in the past two years; taking the price of premium tobacco brands to around £7.30 per pack. The 37 pence increase alone will leave a 20-a-day smoker over £135 worse off.

In the current economic climate; with the cost of living increasing all the time and continuing instability in the labour market, this most recent increase will hit many smokers hard. In fact, many smokers may look to more cost-effective alternatives to smoking - not only avoid the most recent increase, but to save a substantial sum of money overall. Electronic cigarettes are one such product that smokers are increasingly looking towards as a viable alternative.

Taking into account the most recent duty increase, a 20-a-day smoker will spend £2135 per year on conventional cigarettes. As electronic cigarettes are up to 70% cheaper, making the switch to e cigarettes could save the average smoker up to £1500 on an annual basis.

In addition to financial savings, there are several additional benefits of electronic cigarettes including a vastly reduced number of chemicals in inhaled smoke and no odour.

Prior to the smoking ban, hospital admissions of children with asthma were increasing at a rate of 5.2% per year. Following the ban, however, the rate of admissions has shown an average percentage reduction of 13% per year; figures the study’s researchers claim show the benefits of smoke-free legislation. 

This month sees the fifth anniversary since the smoking ban was brought into force in Scotland. Health experts have widely hailed the legislation, including Sally Haw from the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health and Policy who commented that the smoking ban has been “one of Scotland's big public health success stories.”

The overall rate of smoking in Scotland is 25%; nearly 4% higher than the UK average. There are also concerns that although the overall proportion of smokers in Scotland has reduced by 2.4% in the five years since the smoking ban was introduced, rates remain high in deprived areas; some with a rate of up to 41% of the adult population.

The research, which included data from over 700,000 women, links this significant reduction in early deliveries to reduced exposure to tobacco smoke, in both smokers and non-smokers. The smoking rate amongst expectant mothers was placed at 25% prior to the enforcement of the smoking ban in public places, and stands at 19% after. There is also a suggestion by the researchers that non-smoking mothers would have had less exposure to tobacco smoke via ‘passive smoking’ since the ban was introduced.

Although there is no hard evidence to support the link between the premature birth rate and the introduction of the smoking ban, the study’s researchers claim that other factors, such as the standard of maternity care, had not significantly changed for them to influence the rate.

The conclusion of the research, undertaken by the University of Glasgow, said: "The results of our study add to the growing evidence of the wide ranging health benefits of smoke-free legislation and lend support to the adoption of such legislation in countries where it does not currently exist."

The results of the study come as Scotland approaches its five year anniversary since the public smoking ban was introduced on 26^th March. Scotland was the first country in the UK to introduce a smoking ban in public places.

Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, duty and taxes accounted for 77% of the purchase price per packet of cigarettes.  The 37 pence increase on cigarette duty represents an estimated additional £70 million in revenues for the government and takes the percentage of duty and tax per packet even higher.

The duty increase has been welcomed by anti-smoking groups, who claim the price hike is a victory in the fight against smoking-related disease. Deborah Arnott of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) said: "We are delighted that the chancellor has listened to the voices of the health community and taken decisive action to tackle the greatest single cause of ill health and premature death.” Health campaigners also suggest that the increase in cigarette price will make it more unaffordable for young people who may be tempted to try or take up smoking.

Pro-smoking groups and tobacco companies have condemned the price rise, however; claiming it will only encourage the smuggling of cigarettes and the importation of counterfeit tobacco products.

Stacey Solomon isn’t the only mother-to-be who is struggling to stay off cigarettes, however. Only last month, an NHS survey found that levels of smoking, especially in Northern counties of England, were found to be worryingly high.  The research found that the rate of smoking amongst pregnant women was up to 30% in some areas, prompting calls for midwives to actively educate women on the dangers of smoking in pregnancy.

The report also showed an apparent divide in smoking rates amongst Northern and Southern counties; the highest rates of smoking were found in Blackpool and the North East, whereas the lowest rate was in London, where only 6% of expectant mothers were reported to smoke. 

The overall rate of smoking amongst pregnant women has shown a decrease on previous years’ figures; the overall rate from the 2011 data was 13.4%. Some six years ago, the rate of smoking amongst pregnant women stood at 15%. 

The actions of Stacey Solomon have been widely condemned by health campaigners and Stacey has been axed as Foxy Bingo’s Mum of the Year following the publication of the photographs. 

The Chancellor George Osborne has already committed to a 2% increase above inflation in duty on cigarettes, but campaigners including Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS), say that this does not go far enough. These groups claim that due to increasing levels of disposable income, cigarettes are relatively more affordable now than they were in the 1960’s.

A similar call to raise cigarette duty by a 5% escalator was rejected prior to last year’s budget announcement.

John Britton, director of the UKCTCS, said: "Price is the most effective way to encourage smokers who are thinking of quitting to make that step. It is crucially important to use the price levers to nudge smokers to change. 

As the price of cigarettes continues to rise, many smokers might start to look towards alternatives to smoking conventional cigarettes, which can work out significantly cheaper. Electronic cigarettes, which are designed to look like conventional cigarettes and satisfy the body’s craving for nicotine in a similar way, can work out up to 60% cheaper.

Up until this point, smoking had been considered a perfectly safe activity; as exemplified by the statistics that around 70% of men and 40% of women in the UK smoked in the year of the report’s publication.

In the years immediately following the report, major changes in the tobacco industry were introduced. A ban on tobacco advertising on television was brought into force in 1965 and health warnings started to appear on packets of cigarettes in 1971. With such methods of tobacco control, people’s attitudes towards smoking slowly started to shift.

Further enforcements on tobacco advertising and public smoking bans intervening, the attitude towards smoking in today’s Britain is far removed from that of the 1960’s. This is mirrored by today’s smoking rate; which stands at around 21% for both men and women is 21%.

The past few years have seen the face of smoking develop even further, with electronic cigarettes coming into circulation and becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to cigarettes. Unlike conventional cigarettes, e cigarettes do not contain many of the chemicals associated with causing disease (such as tar and tobacco), therefore offering smokers a safer alternative.

Pro smoking groups argue that there are too many restrictions on where they are allowed to smoke as cigarette bans in outdoor areas are becoming more widespread. Increasingly, they argue, the ban on smoking in parts of the UK is being extended to cover areas that are not only ‘enclosed public spaces’ but outdoor areas. Such examples include the ban on smoking in hospital grounds in a number of Welsh health authorities and the proposed ban on smoking in parks in Cardiff. There has also been talk about banning smoking within people’s own private spaces, such as in their cars. How much further can the smoking ban be extended before it starts to infringe upon people’s ‘human rights’?

We have already seen New York City introduce widespread outdoor smoking bans. In May last year, it was announced that smoking in many outdoor public places in the city including parks, beaches, public squares and the most famous square of all Times Square, would be banned.

Extending the smoking ban into outdoor public arenas was justified by the Mayor’s office in New York as a means of reducing the effects of passive smoking, which they claimed could have as negative an effect within three feet of smoking in an outdoor space as it could in an indoor enclosed space, although others dispute these claims.

The question is will the same policy spread to other cities in the world or even the UK, and where will the smoking ban stop?

The reduction in the smoking rate also seems to be transpiring into a positive picture in terms of cancer rates. Whilst still alarmingly high, Britain was recently ranked at a relatively low 22^nd in terms of cancer rates. The ranking, compiled by the World Cancer Research Fund, (WCRF), and based on World Health Organisation figures, showed Denmark to be the highest in terms of cancer rates per 100,000 people at 326, with the UK showing a level of 276 cases per 100,000.

Professor Mike Richards, the government’s advisor on cancer, said that the UK’s early efforts to tackle the ‘tobacco epidemic’ have had a positive impact, leaving Britain in a relatively strong position.

In terms of male/female rates , the findings of the report showed a marked difference, with the rate of cancer amongst women being the world’s 12^th highest, as opposed to the rate in men, for which the UK was ranked 33^rd.

On the release of the rankings, Professor Richards commented: "I am encouraged by what I see for men. For women [the rate] is still too high but I am confident our picture will improve for both.”

Since the smoking ban came into force in England in 2007, smoking indoors in public areas has been illegal. Shisha bars can allow smoking within the law, but this can only take place in areas where there are three sides of the area open for ventilation. As the number of Shisha bars has increased in towns and cities across the country, there have been growing concerns that not all of the bars are operating within the law and allowing smoking of Shisha pipes in areas where there is little or no ventilation. Police and environmental officers in Manchester have been cracking down on illegal Shisha smoking over the past few months, also fining another café owner on the grounds of similar offences.

In addition to concerns over the legality involved with smoking Shisha pipes, there are concerns from health campaigners that the dangers of smoking tobacco via Shisha pipes are not properly promoted by Shisha bar owners and as such, people are unknowingly putting themselves at risk. “People may think that smoking Shisha is not as harmful as cigarettes, but all the evidence says this is not the case”, commented Councillor Nigel Murphy. 

The ban comes into force following a recent tobacco action control plan report by the Welsh Government, which suggested the indoor smoking bans which already exist in hospitals, health centres and schools should be extended to cover their grounds as a whole.

Smoke detectors have been installed in hospital building entrances and loudspeaker alarms will be activated when smoke is detected. Staff, patients and visitors who wish to smoke will now need to leave the hospital premises to do so – as smoking outside entrances and in car parks is no longer permitted.

Dr Gill Richardson of Aneurin Bevan Health Board said “A smoke-free environment policy will protect staff, patients and visitors from the proven harm caused by second-hand smoking.

“Hospitals should be places of healing. If patients smoke whilst in hospital, this increases the risk of complications and delays their recovery”.

Bans on smoking on hospital properties are already in force in some hospitals in South Wales and further hospitals in Newport and Abergavenny are also set to follow suit in the first few months of the year.

The new "make every contact count" policy is part of a report commissioned by the health secretary aimed at tackling rates of obesity, cancer and alcohol consumption, which have increased dramatically in recent years.

The new policy, which is still only in the recommendation stage, would be aimed at encouraging those who have problems with smoking addiction, alcohol consumption and diet, to ask health professionals for help. The members of the NHS Future Forum argue that part of the problem members of the public with unhealthy lifestyles have is that they do not come forward and ask for help. By regularly being asked about their lifestyle, it is hoped that issues with smoking, diet and alcohol can be identified earlier and the appropriate help provided –either in the form of medication or by being enrolled on a programme.

The full report will be published and submitted to the Department of Health on 10^th January. 

On 12^th – 15^th January 2012 at the NEC Birmingham, petrolheads gathered to get behind the wheel of E-Lites’ full-size replica F1 car with a built-in driving simulator, courtesy of F1driver.com. Visitors to the stand got a close-up look at E-Lites’ stunning 37ft powerboat,  as well asa test of the most sophisticated electronic cigarettes on the market, which offer smokers a healthier, cheaper and legally unrestricted alternative to tobacco cigarettes.

E-Lites electronic cigarettes allow smokers to enjoy a nicotine fix without seriously damaging their health, and have seen record numbers of smokers switching in the last few months. They also have a growing number of celeb fans ranging from Johnny Depp to Katherine Heigl who have converted to ‘vaping’.  

And for those who would rather spend their money on motors, E-Lites are a less expensive alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. In fact, a typical 20-a-day smoker could save around £162 per month by switching. They are also conveniently unrestricted for use in most public places.  

Autosport International is the ultimate day out for car and motorsport enthusiasts alike and the E-Lites team were fully revved up for their appearance at the show:

E-Lites co-director Adrian Everett said: “There’s a historic link between motorsport and cigarettes that has almost been extinguished by the clampdown on tobacco advertising. We are very happy to be involved in re-establishing that link in a way that’s fitting for the 21^st century. Just as car technology has evolved, so has smoking technology, which means smokers can now enjoy a smarter option. The nicotine buzz is still there, but we’ve excluded the most harmful elements, so it makes more sense from a health perspective.”

E-Lites and the Bauer Radio group, which includes Manchester’s favourite radio station Key103, along with Radio Aire, Kerrang! and Magic, have teamed up to give away a Year’s supply of Electronic Cigarettes. The competition is being promoted online through the Bauer Radio websites and offers one lucky winner the chance to own the world’s most advanced electronic cigarette, the E-Pro 4. The E-Pro 4 electronic cigarette kit, comes with a sleek pack, which charges your spare battery on the move, whilst also carrying the equivalent of 200 traditional cigarettes. The E-Pro 4 can be completed with the all-new E-Dock, which charges the E-Pro 4 pack via a USB port, or wall charger.

Click here to view the E-Lites promotion.

The survey further revealed that 8% of smokers did not know that smoking could lead to premature death or serious health problems, and 58% also underestimated the number of long-term smokers who suffer premature death as a result of their smoking habits.

Although the negative effects of smoking are known by the vast majority of smokers, this recent survey reveals that smokers are perhaps unaware of the extent and scale of the risk of health implications.

The smokers surveyed also put the cost of smoking 20 cigarettes a day at £1800 per year, whereas the actual figure is closer to £2050.

Public Health Minister Anne Milton said: "Quitting smoking is the very best thing you can do to improve your health this New Year”.

One way that smokers who cannot quit could improve their smoking habit is to make the switch to electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco or tar so provide a healthier alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes. E cigarettes are also up to 70% cheaper than cigarettes and because they release water vapour and not harmful chemicals as in cigarette smoke, they are much more widely accepted in public places.

Below is the excerpt from the full article:

electric alternative

With smoking banned in public places and tax and duty hiking prices, electronic alternatives are growing in popularity. Michael Ryan, co-founder and director of E-Lites, says: "The growth of the electronic cigarettes market in the UK has been astonishing. Overall, we estimate there are about 250,000 regular buyers of electronic cigarettes in the UK. E-Lites has about a third of that market, and we're seeing average monthly sales rises of 18%."

He says that E-Lites contain a pure liquid form of nicotine that, when someone inhales from the device, is converted into a vapour. Since there is no smoke and no smell, E-Lites can be legally used anywhere, whether indoors or outdoors.

Ryan says that margins on E-Lites are much higher than for tobacco products, and the company has tailored its products to wholesalers and retailers needs. "From the size of the packs, which are very similar to conventional cigarette packs, to the price points and customer support lines, we have prioritised convenience. Initially, we will be introducing the E40 disposable electronic cigarette. These provide the equivalent of about 40 cigarettes, which, at less than £10, is a very attractive proposition."

Ryan says E-Lites has arranged promotional campaigns with its official partner, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), and is currently agreeing a campaign with Booker to help with the launch of its E40 product. The company also arranges roadshows in the US for BJ's wholesale club, and this is something it will be considering for the UK.

He adds: "Booker is just the start for us here in the UK. We're rapidly approaching a tipping point. In the next year to 18 months, we expect electronic cigarettes to become fairly widespread among smokers. We need to ensure that the wholesale market is prepared for this by making our products more widely available."

Click here to read the full article, and scroll to the bottom for electronic cigarettes.

• An electronic cigarette is a battery powered device that simulates the action of smoking and provides the smoker with a ‘nicotine fix’.
• Electronic cigarettes are shaped and designed to look like regular cigarettes.
• In terms of their construction, electronic cigarettes have three constituent parts: a nicotine cartridge, a vaporiser and a lithium ion battery.
• Electronic cigarettes work by the battery providing power to heat the nicotine cartridge, vaporising the nicotine. This is a different process to conventional cigarettes, where the nicotine is burnt after the cigarette has been lit.
• The resultant nicotine vapour is then inhaled and subsequently exhaled. The exhaled substance looks like smoke, but is in fact water vapour.
• The majority of electronic cigarettes are reusable, with replacement parts including nicotine cartridges and batteries.
• The electronic cigarettes that we know today originate from a design created in 1993 by a Chinese pharmacist. The original concept of an electronically powered cigarette was in fact developed in 1963, but due to lack of available technology, the electronic cigarette was not put into production at this time.
• Communities/groups of people sometimes refer to themselves as ‘Vapers’ – the name originating from the vaporisation of nicotine during electronic cigarette smoking.

Electronic cigarettes DO NOT contain many of the harmful substances that are associated with smoking related disease, such as tar and tobacco. 

The test

74 non-smokers with an average age of 76 were each given nicotine patches. Half the sample received a patch that delivered 15mg of nicotine per day; the other half got a dummy patch with no nicotine. Neither group knew which patch they received. 

The results

After 6 months, the patches came off and the results were fascinating. The group who received the daily 15mg of nicotine got back 46% of normal long-term memory for their age group. The group who received no nicotine found their memory got 26% worse. 

Researchers are now also considering nicotine as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s. Research has established that nicotine can also help ulcerative colitis patients suffer fewer outbreaks. Sanford studies have discovered that nicotine also helps to grow new blood vessels; this would be great for patients with diabetes and poor blood circulation. 

Acetylcholine

The common factor of all these studies is acetylcholine, the natural compound and neurotransmitter in the brain which assists nerve cell fire. Nicotine behaves significantly similar to acetylcholine by stimulating and regulating the firing of neurons and the release of brain chemicals, such as, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine – this will also make nicotine a mood heightener for some people. 

Professionals believe nicotine’s resemblance of acetylcholine is a contributing factor to enhancing the formation of blood vessels. Endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels, carry a receptor that binds to acetylcholine, this means it will probably bind to nicotine too. 

The Experts

Dr. Paul Newhouse, director of the Centre for Cognitive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre said the nicotine helped patients do better on cognitive tests for “attention memory, speed of processing and consistency of processing.” 

It goes without saying; all the additional chemicals added to cigarettes totally counteract any positive effects of nicotine. However, taken in the right circumstance at a measured rate, nicotine has some incredibly positive side effects. 

If this sounds familiar, it may be that you have tried to quit smoking as a New Year’s resolution in previous years. Instead of going ‘cold turkey’ again this year, it might be worth considering switching to an alternative method of smoking rather than trying to quit smoking altogether.

Electronic cigarettes are increasingly being used by smokers as an alternative to conventional cigarettes. E cigarettes contain a nicotine cartridge, which vaporises when in use. Electronic cigarettes are also shaped and designed to resemble normal cigarettes, so can also help you replicate the habitual action of smoking whilst you try to quit conventional cigarettes.

Of the thousands of people who try to quit smoking every year at this time, it is estimated that 95% will return to cigarettes after each quit attempt. Don’t join the thousands who will fail in their quit attempt – but instead, switch the habit and join the thousands who have already made the conversion to electronic cigarettes. It could also help with that other New Year’s resolution of saving money – as electronic cigs are up to 70% cheaper than conventional cigarettes.

The plans are likely to be met with some resistance by the general public in the country - Bulgaria has a strong association with smoking – with a history of tobacco growing and an estimated 40% of its population being smokers.

There have previously been some concerns that a smoking ban would harm the country’s tourism industry – a ban that was supposed to come into force in 2010 which would have made it illegal to smoke in bars and cafes – was postponed following fierce opposition from café and restaurant owners at the time.

In banning smoking in enclosed public spaces, Bulgaria will join several other countries in the EU who have also banned smoking in public areas and places of work over the past few years following the first outright ban in the world, which was brought into force in the Republic of Ireland in 2004.

Bulgaria’s Health Minister Stefan Konstantinov commented that by bringing in the ban, the country is ‘fighting to make Bulgaria's people healthier’. According to data, the number of smoking related deaths in Bulgaria has been rising at a rapid rate in recent years.

The latest figures prove that increasing numbers of smokers are switching to E-Lites’ smoke-free cigarettes, which are healthier, safer and cheaper than their traditional tobacco counterparts, as well as being legally unrestricted for use in public places.

UK-based E-Lites, founded in 2007, has seen meteoric growth over the past 12 months, thanks to product development, celebrity endorsement, growing public awareness and increasing support from members of the medical community who recognise it as a way of reducing smoking-related deaths among smokers who can’t quit completely.

Sales to date have come primarily via the website www.e-lites.co.uk but the manufacturer is now expanding availability in shops. E-Lites have recently gone on sale in Roadchef service areas across the UK, and in convenience stores and newsagents via the wholesaler Booker, while advanced negotiations are underway with a number of large retail groups.

E-Lites founder and co-director Adrian Everett said: “At the beginning of the year we were attracting several hundred new customers a month. We are now seeing several hundred new customers per day, which is remarkable considering the legislative and marketing challenges we have faced.

“It was last December when we made the decision to design and manufacture our own exclusive range of ecigs, which has set us apart from the generic products on the market. The launch of our next-generation G9 series was an overwhelming success and we continue to grow exponentially.”

Earlier this year, E-Lites staged a ‘Tobacco Amnesty’ in central London to mark World No Tobacco Day, encouraging hundreds of smokers to ditch their old habits in favour of an alternative that is free of tar, tobacco and other harmful additives.

E-Lites also made a number of TV appearances, including EastEnders and Daybreak, as well as featuring on TalkSPORT and BBC Radio 4, and being among the star attractions at The Gadget Show Live and Top Gear Live shows in London and Birmingham.

Mr Everett added: “What we’re seeing is a cultural shift among smokers who don’t necessarily want to give up completely, but want a healthier, cheaper and more convenient alternative. For these reasons, we’re expecting continued growth for E-Lites in 2012.”

The 33-year-old freelance writer, from North London, was the entrant who gained the most giggles from a panel of judges including Miranda actor Tom Ellis, comedian Bob Mills, Coronation Street writer Damon Rochefort and Cath Gagon from TV production company Avalon.

As the overall winner, she proudly picked up the ‘funny money’ prize donated by E-Lites, the UK’s leading electronic cigarette manufacturer. In addition, the event raised significant sums for Barts And The London Charity, which provides funding for vital healthcare initiatives.

Andrea said: “I can't believe I won! I'm absolutely delighted. Boom-Tish is a brilliant night to be involved in and raises a lot of money for charity, as well as supporting the local arts community. Plus, I won a trophy that says ‘Winner’. It doesn't get much better than that!” 

Andrea only started doing stand-up last year, acting on the advice of a friend who suggested that she ‘please just go and talk to someone else about your problems’. Within six months, she had beaten over 1,000 comedians to gain second place in the Laughing Horse New Act Competition, as well as making it to the semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny. In 2011, she again gained 2nd place in the Bath Comedy Festival New Act of the Year competition, and has since performed all over the UK.

Most recently, she has worked on a pilot programme for the BBC and is now working on her 2012 Edinburgh Festival show.

Boom-Tish is a new brand of comedy and variety night, based at the Music Palace in Crouch End, London, but expanding to a number of new venues in 2012. For more information, go to www.boomtish.co.uk

E-Lites provide smokers with a safer, healthier and more affordable alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, as well as being legally available to use anywhere, whether indoors or outdoors. 

Leading up to the ban, it is reported that the government ‘corrections’ department spent over $200,000 on staff training and signage, $5000 on stop smoking books, and a further $1 million on nicotine replacement therapy for inmates.

Since the ban was introduced, the black market price of tobacco has soared in New Zealand following the smoking ban in the country’s prisons. According to reports, the price of tobacco being bought illegally by inmates has shot up to $500 per 30g of tobacco, an amount which equates to five times the price of the most expensive caviar available in the country. For a single roll-up cigarette, prisoners are reportedly paying up to $15.

During the first two months following the ban, 353 banned items were found in prisons and 31 inmates were caught smoking.

Despite these figures and pre-enforcement criticism from human rights campaigners and the pro-smoking lobbies, who claimed that the ban could lead to an increase in violence in the country’s prisons, the New Zealand government have declared the ban a success so far.

Social or occasional smokers are usually defied on the terms that they smoke less than an average of one cigarette a day, ie. they do not smoke every day. The reasons why people become social smokers vary – although it is likely to be driven by the predominance of smoking within an individual’s friendship group, and the desire to ‘fit in’.

So are social smokers still addicted to smoking? Professor Robert West, leading smoking researcher at University College London, undertook a study of occasional/social smokers in 1995 and found that about 80 per cent of occasional smokers find they cannot stop when they try. Commenting on the findings, he said:

“One way addiction works is by forming an association between situations where a person would typically smoke, which then creates the impulse to smoke when they find themselves in that situation again”.

So ultimately, it seems that unlike smokers whose cravings for cigarettes are such that they need to smoke every single day, social smokers may be able to refrain from cigarettes on a daily basis, but ultimately, the evidence suggests that they are still addicted – as they will consistently return to the act of smoking in certain social situations.

An estimated three million listeners heard E-Lites co-director Michael Ryan interviewed by presenter Winifred Robinson about the advantages of electronic cigarettes over traditional tobacco cigarettes.

The absence of tar, tobacco and other carcinogenic elements means that E-Lites offer a significantly healthier alternative to smokers, he said.

Also interviewed on air was Martin Dockrell, the director of research and policy at the anti-smoking charity ASH, who admitted: “We really like the idea of a safe and satisfying alternative to cigarettes. The thing with these cigarettes is that they are not, in fact, cigarettes, and you are not consuming and not creating smoke. This is all very good.”

He went on to question the regulation of electronic cigarettes. In response, Mr Ryan, who is also chairman of the industry body ECITA, explained that manufacturers within ECITA had met strict compliance standards in terms of quality and safety.

Mike Ryan said: “E-Lites, and indeed all members of ECITA, the Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association, are in support of measured and reasonable regulation, but not as a medicinal product. Electronic cigarettes are in fact a recreational product, they are an alternative to harmful tobacco.”

ECITA is working closely with the Medicine and Health Products Research Authority (MHRA) to agree a suitable regulatory framework for electronic cigarettes.

Meanwhile, the government’s behavioural insights unit has expressed support for the wider use of electronic cigarettes, which it says could save tens of thousands of people from smoking-related deaths.

E-Lites are at the forefront of the electronic cigarette revolution, which is inspiring an increasing proportion of smokers to ditch conventional cigarettes in favour of an alternative that’s significantly healthier, yet still provides a familiar intake of nicotine.

The UK smoking ban, brought into force in places of work in July 2007, made it illegal for patients to smoke indoors at hospitals. Currently, it is the NHS trusts in areas throughout the country who decide upon whether smoking is banned on their premises or not. In July 2011, we saw the University Health Board ban smoking outside entrances to all hospitals in the Cardiff and Vale area, with a further ban on the entirety of NHS premises in the locality in November.

 Conversely, in May this year, we saw patients at Chadwick Lodge, a 52 bed secure unit providing treatment and care for patients detained under the Mental Health Act, granted permission to bring an appeal against a smoking ban at the premises. The legal team representing the patients said that the ban at Chadwick Lodge infringed the common law rights of the patients under the Equality Act 2010. Despite a previous appeal which was lost by patients in 2009, Mr Justice Silber gave the patients permission to seek a judicial review.

Until such time when the government enforce more widespread smoking bans, legal and moral battles such as this are likely to continue. We’d be interested to hear your thoughts and opinions on smoking on hospital premises.

The UK’s leading electronic cigarette manufacturer will once again bring together a 37ft powerboat, an F1 simulator and the smartest electronic cigarettes on the market, proving to smokers that you can still enjoy a nicotine fix without seriously damaging your health.

E-lites already have a growing army of celebrity fans – not least among the Top Gear team itself – and the latest smoke-free devices will be showcased in front of thousands of petrolheads at the ultimate motoring event this weekend.

From Thursday to Sunday at Excel London, motor enthusiasts will be invited to get behind the wheel of a full-size F1 car with a built-in driving simulator, courtesy of F1driver.com, and can also enter a prize draw to win a spin in the E-Lites powerboat, which is set to compete in the RB12 Round Britain race next year.

E-Lites are a healthier and less expensive alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, as well as being unrestricted for use in public places.

Being free of tar and tobacco, E-Lites allow smokers to avoid the most harmful carcinogenic components of cigarettes, while still providing the familiar buzz of nicotine and the flavour of tobacco, thanks to micro-technology that converts a pharmaceutical-grade solution into a vapour that can be inhaled.

E-Lites co-director Adrian Everett said: “There’s a historic link between motorsport and cigarettes that has almost been extinguished by the clampdown on tobacco advertising. We are very happy to be involved in re-establishing that link in a way that’s fitting for the 21^st century. Just as car technology has evolved, so has smoking technology, which means smokers can now enjoy a smarter option. The nicotine buzz is still there, but we’ve excluded the most harmful elements, so it makes more sense from a health perspective.”

Visit E-Lites at Stand 595 at Excel London from 24^th-27^th November 2011. 

The leading British brand has developed a revolutionary new type of electronic cigarette for the retail market, the E-30, which is being introduced into all 20 Roadchef sites during November.

The E-30 is E-Lites’ most innovate product to date – the first single-use device which can subsequently be recharged for ongoing use.

The appearance of counter-top display stands in Roadchef outlets represents a significant breakthrough in the wider commercial availability of E-Lites, which are a healthier and cheaper alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and are also unrestricted for use in public places both indoors and outdoors.

E-Lites are at the forefront of the electronic cigarette revolution, which has inspired hundreds of thousands of smokers to ditch conventional cigarettes in favour of an alternative that’s free of tar and tobacco and doesn’t produce smoke or strong odours, yet still provides a familiar intake of nicotine.

As with all E-Lites, the E-30 is based around advanced technology that converts a solution – comprising pure nicotine, water and authentic flavourings – into a vapour that is inhaled.

To date, E-Lites have been offered as either one-off disposables or as rechargeable starter kits, with replacement cartridges known as E-Tips available to order. But the new E-30 delivers the best of both worlds since it immediately offers the equivalent of approximately 30 cigarettes, with the additional option of recharging and replacement E-Tips for continuing use.

Crucially, the E-30 is competitively priced so that smokers who are new to the brand can sample the product inexpensively and then decide whether they will continue.   

E-Lites co-director Adrian Everett said: “The unique electronic cigarettes we have developed over the past five years have become increasingly popular among sensible smokers who have purchased them via our website www.e-lites.co.uk. We’re immensely proud of our success to date but we’re also mindful of the many smokers who have yet to experience E-Lites. We wanted to open up that option by broadening our range and introducing an entry-level device that’s very affordable but can be retained for ongoing use.

“Making our products available from Roadchef sites, which welcome around 60 million visitors nationally each year, will undoubtedly encourage greater awareness of the sensible smoking alternative we have created.”

Mike Heaton, Director of Commercial and Loss Prevention at Roadchef, added: ‘Roadchef is proud to be working with E-Lites and we look forward to offering customers who smoke an alternative to the traditional cigarette. Sales to date indicate that smokers are very interested in purchasing this product from both our retail shops and forecourts.”  

The show’s millions of viewers were re- introduced to the electronic cigarettes, which are healthier, cheaper and less restricted than tobacco cigarettes, by Roxy’s shady solicitor who lit up in the popular Café on Albert Square.  

Before taking a puff on the smoking alternative, with its signature green light, the character who has been brought in to help Roxy win custody of her child with Jack Branning, turned to onlookers and said: “My first one of the day”. However, he need not be worried, as E-Lites contain no tar, tobacco or harmful chemical ingredients that are found in conventional cigarettes.

Those in the café enjoying breakfast didn’t need to panic either, as E-Lites produce only a harmless vapour and no nasty odour, meaning they can be smoked almost anywhere.

Adrian Everett, one of the founders and directors of E-Lites, said: “As the UK’s leading electronic cigarette brand, we were delighted to be asked to supply E-Lites to the makers of EastEnders. Seeing the electronic cigarettes being featured for a second time on the show, just shows how widely accepted they are becoming.  The fact that these can be smoked almost anywhere and are much healthier and cheaper than traditional tobacco cigarettes, makes them an ideal alternative for both the world of soap as well as in reality.” 

Speaking at an assembly motion proposing a ban on adults smoking whilst their children are in the car, Mr Poots said that he will consider extending the ban to cover smoking in all cars, even where children are not present.

Mr Poots stated: “ Passive smoking is a health issue which I take very seriously, particularly when those affected by it are children, who are more vulnerable to second-hand smoke as they breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults."

 Whilst smokers’ lobby groups have called the proposals a ‘gross over-reaction’, figures quoted during the debate on the motion certainly lend support to some sort of action.

These include figures from the Ulster Cancer Foundation, which claim that 300,000 children throughout the UK are being referred to a GP every year as a result of tobacco smoke inhalation, of which 9,500 children went on to be seen at hospital. Furthermore, the treatment of smoking-relating illness is reported to cost the Department of Health in Northern Ireland over £119m each year.

As an enclosed space, the ban on smoking in cars is being seen as one way in which children’s exposure to second-hand smoke can be easily targeted and reduced. According to figures quoted by Mr Poots, 15% of adult smokers smoke in their cars whilst their children are in the vehicle. 

Cotinine. You may never have heard of it, but it is this chemical that has helped scientists to show that passive smoking has a measurable impact on non-smokers who inhale smoke from cigarettes, therefore allowing smoking bans to be enforced.

Cotinine is a chemical compound that is one of the constituent parts tobacco smoke is broken down into as it is metabolised in the body. In itself, cotinine is not a harmful substance, but is a very useful indicator of how much tobacco smoke has been inhaled by a person, either by way of direct smoking or through ‘passive smoking’.

Passive smoking can result in many severe medical conditions, including cancer, lung disease, and asthma amongst others, and is thought to cause thousands of deaths in the UK every year. The introduction of the smoking ban in the UK was an attempt to reduce this number, and we are now starting to see the parameters of smoke free zones extending, even into certain outdoor spaces, such as outside building entrances, on outdoor terraces at restaurants and even on the grounds of some premises altogether.

The air in different environments can be tested for cotinine levels to establish the potential risk of passive tobacco smoke inhalation. Studies have also tested the level of cotinine in the people’s saliva, both before and after smoking bans were introduced. Results in one study in New Zealand found that the risks of passive smoking were reduced by up to 90% following the smoking ban.

Whilst smokers may have found a great deal of nuisance in the smoking ban, there is no doubt the risks of non-smokers developing cigarette smoke associated disease is greatly reduced through smoking bans in public places. 

E-Lites, the company behind the most advanced electronic cigarettes in the world, are proud to announce that they will be sponsoring Monson’s M- 1 event in Moscow's Olympic Stadium against Fedor Emelianenko on November 20^th 2011.

Jeff ‘The Snowman’ Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a two-time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship and a NOGI Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion.

A Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and American Top Team member, Monson has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu as well as a professional boxing record of two wins and one draw. 

Nicknamed ‘The Snowman’ after his winning performance at the 1999 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship, Monson came in as an unknown and beat four Brazilians in a row in the 88-98 kg weight class.  His opponents described him as a snowball – white, compact, rolling and getting bigger and stronger as the tournament went on. 

He will take on Fedor Emelianenko, considered one the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.  A former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight champion, who will attempt to snap a three-fight losing streak when he returns to challenge Monso n at home in Russia for the first time in four years. 

Adrian Everett, a founder and co-director of E-Lites said: “We’re really honoured to be associated with one of the best mixed martial artists in the world and are really looking forward to supporting him at this historic event in Russia. Just like Monson, E-Lites has really snowballed, with more and more people making the sensible switch. 

“Our aim is to provide smokers with an enjoyable and authentic smoking experience – but one that is significantly healthier, better value and unrestricted for use in almost all public places. We hope by raising awareness on an international scale, even more smokers will be converted.”

E-Lites contain a solution of pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, purified water and tobacco flavourings. The internal components of the device are activated upon inhaling and turn this solution into a vapour.

Crucially, E-Lites contain none of the tar, tobacco, carcinogens and added chemicals found in conventional cigarettes. They produce a vapour, rather than smoke, that has no strong smell.

*Update*

Check out this exclusive picture from the fight!

The UK’s leading electronic cigarette brand, which counts a certain Top Gear star among its celebrity fans, is not only showcasing the latest E-Lites products but also offering petrolheads the chance to win the ultimate high-speed thrills on the sea. 

Visitors can climb into the driving seat of an F1 car live at the show, and can enter a prize draw to win a spin in the E-Lites powerboat, which is set to compete in the RB12 Round Britain race next year.

 The branded powerboat, which will be on display at both the London and Birmingham shows, comes fresh from the PSP Southampton Boat Show, where it was the headline exhibit for three days. 

E-Lites are a healthier and less expensive alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, as well as being unrestricted for use in public places. 

Being free of tar and tobacco, E-Lites allow smokers to avoid the most harmful carcinogenic components of cigarettes, while still providing the familiar buzz of nicotine and the flavor of tobacco, thanks to micro-technology that converts a pharmaceutical-grade solution into a vapour that can be inhaled. 

E-Lites co-director Adrian Everett said: “There’s a historic link between motorsport and cigarettes that has almost been extinguished by the clampdown on tobacco advertising. We are very happy to be involved in reestablishing that link in a way that’s fitting for the 21^st century. Just as car technology has evolved, so has smoking technology, which means smokers can now enjoy a smarter option. The nicotine buzz is still there, but we’ve excluded the most harmful elements, so it makes more sense from a health perspective.”

Visit E-Lites at Stand 180 at Top Gear Live at Birmingham NEC on 11^th-13^th November and Stand 595 at Excel London on 24^th-27^th November.

Four smokers determined to get healthier are embarking on a unique charity challenge in aid of the Born Free Foundation – and are relying on the help of the leading electronic cigarette manufacturer, E-Lites. 

On October 1^st 2011, Joanne White and three of her colleagues will bravely begin their ‘Born Smoke-Free’ campaign and give up smoking to raise money for the Horsham-based charity. 

For six months, the team who work for Global Plantations, which invests and promotes responsible investment opportunities that support sustainable economic development, will pack in their fags in a bid to raise money for the charity which supports wildlife. 

As a replacement, they will be offered smoke-free E-Lites electronic cigarettes to help satisfy their nicotine cravings in a way that is significantly healthier than tobacco cigarettes, as well as being unrestricted for use in public places. 

In addition to receiving sponsorship from family and friends, the group will also place their daily cigarette money into a kitty, which they will donate to the Born Free Foundation at the end of the challenge.

 E-Lites, which provides smokers with an alternative to traditional cigarettes without the most harmful ingredients, such as tobacco, tar and added chemicals, were honoured to be able to sponsor the team for their challenge.   

Joanne White said: “It’s fantastic that E-Lites has agreed to sponsor us. We’re all really hopeful we’ll complete the challenge successfully and that we should raise a really impressive amount for the Born Free Foundation. It’s great that we can also raise awareness of the great alternative that E-Lites offers to smokers who can’t give up their nicotine habit.

 “I’m expecting my first grandchild early next year, so my motivation to give up is really important. I’m sure the support from E-Lites will give me that extra little push to stop smoking.”

 Elites co-director Dermot Ryan said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Joanne and her colleagues on this enduring challenge and of course to help raise money for a fantastic charity – the Born Free Foundation. We’re always being contacted by people who have smoked tobacco cigarettes for many years, in some cases, and are now pursuing a new lifestyle by switching to electronic cigarettes. We wish them all the very best of luck.”

 The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity working throughout the world to stop individual wild animal suffering and protect threatened species in the wild. For more information, please visit www.bornfree.org.uk

The E-Pro4 is the company’s most comprehensive e-cigarette kit yet and is tipped to be a big hit with Christmas shoppers seeking a surprising gift for loved ones who smoke.

Since E-Lites are significantly healthier and more cost-effective than traditional tobacco cigarettes, as well as being unrestricted for use in public places, this is a gift that could help smokers have a much happier new year as they move into 2012.

As with all E-Lites devices, the E-Pro4 is based around advanced technology that converts a nicotine solution into a vapour that is inhaled, providing the same sensation as a cigarette but without the most harmful carcinogenic effects of tar and tobacco. 

However, the E-Pro4, echoing the style of the latest smartphones and docking stations, takes this fast-growing trend to a new level of luxury, as well as offering ultimate convenience to men and women who lead busy lifestyles.

The E-Pro4’s sleek, soft-touch case allows smokers to slide their spare battery into the pack for portable charging while on the move. A user-friendly LCD display screen makes it easy to see when the battery is low and there’s a back-up battery to ensure users don’t have to go without.  

Packaged with a range of refills and accessories, the E-Pro4 offers newcomers an excellent introduction to electronic cigarettes. It comes in an attractive gift box complete with the equivalent of 200 cigarettes. The E-Pro4 can be purchased alongside the desktop ‘E-Dock’ – the world’s first charging hub for electronic cigarettes, designed for home or work

 E-LItes co-director Adrian Everett said: “Having built our reputation as the UK’s leading manufacturer of high quality electronic cigarettes at affordable prices, we’re thrilled to be launching this premium addition to our range for those who want something very special. It’s designed very much with modern lifestyles in mind, in terms of its convenience, ease-of-use and style. Our ambition for E-Lites is to give smokers a genuine alternative that fits with 21^st century sensibilities. The E-Pro4 is a great representation of that and we’re expecting high demand in the run-up to Christmas.”

Scientific and government support for electronic cigarettes is growing rapidly, with a number of policy advisers, doctors and medical researchers advocating the devices as a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes since they are free of the most harmful carcinogenic ingredients, tar and tobacco.

The E-Pro4 is available from mid-October from £64.99. 

The EU’s forthcoming initiative to cut the number of house fires caused by cigarettes has been endorsed by E-Lites, the UK’s leading electronic cigarette manufacturer. 

ITV's Daybreak signalled a new dawn for smokers today as Dr Hillary Jones and fellow presenters discussed the benefits of stubbing out tobacco cigarettes in favour of healthier electronic cigarettes such as E-Lites.

They were commenting on the opening of a 'Vaping Bar' in Yorkshire where smokers can freely use electronic cigarettes, which is often nicknamed ‘vaping’ because the devices produce nicotine in the form of a vapour that can be inhaled.

Dr Hilary said: “Electronic cigarettes like E-Lites give you vaporised nicotine but no tar, so no carcinogenic lung cancer causing chemicals and no passive smoking element. People want to go to the pub and still indulge in smoking, and they can do so safely with electronic cigarettes.”

Presenters including Adrian Chiles, Christine Bleakley and Kate Garraway discussed the way in which electronic cigarettes contain only nicotine and therefore replicate the sensation of conventional cigarettes in far healthier way due to the absence of tar and tobacco.

Dr Hilary commented that E-Lites were similar to nicotine gums, patches and sprays in terms of helping satisfy the craving of smokers.

Following on from the news that a government policy unit is planning to encourage the use of such devices as a healthier alternative that could dramatically reduce the most damaging effects of smoking, the Daybreak discussion represents another step towards widespread acceptance of the devices. 

Only last week, an article in the influential US-based Forbes magazine called for electronic cigarettes to be promoted, not banned. Calling for a review of international regulation, writer Tim Worstall said: “Surely people ingesting nicotine in a manner that doesn’t kill them is a good idea? Better than their continuing to get the drug from a method that may well kill them?”

E-Lites co-director Adrian Everett said: “Electronic cigarettes are becoming more popular every day The simple reason is that many millions of smokers want to continue smoking, but want to do so in a way that is healthier than tobacco cigarettes, as well as being cheaper and unrestricted for use almost anywhere in public. 

“We welcome discussions like the one on Daybreak because it helps raise awareness that there is a credible alternative to tobacco cigarettes that people can enjoy. We fully expect E-Lites to become increasingly prevalent in the future.” 

The structure of the US federal rule-making system means that the public have until 14^th November to submit their opinion on the new proposed law. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and type the keyword ‘electronic cigarettes’ into the search bar to have your say NOW!

Even though the electronic cigarette has been around since 2002, it is still a relatively new phenomenon in the eyes of the general public. The majority of consumers are still wary of the dangers of the electronic cigarette and do not have enough e-cig knowledge to understand that their vapor is harmless to users and those around them.

In the UK the Government has recently promoted the use of electronic cigarettes, acknowledging the amount of lives they could save each year. One of E-Lites co-founders, Adrian Everett, catches up with talkSPORT’s Mike Graham and describes the Governments recent push as: “An interesting change of tact because we’ve come with a great deal of opposition until recently, largely due to a lack of product knowledge. It appears that various bodies have recognized the many benefits of the electronic cigarette.”

However, the US Government’s stance on e-cigarettes differs greatly from that of the UK Government. Consumer confusion over electronic cigarettes plays a key part in the introduction of the ban on flights, Ray LaHood, American Transportation Secretary claimed: “Airline passengers have rights, and this new rule would enhance passenger comfort and reduce any confusion surrounding the use of electronic cigarettes in flight."

Flight attendants in America have previously had problems with electronic cigarette use on flights. Firstly, flight attendants have not been trained thoroughly enough on electronic cigarettes, causing confrontations with passengers using their e-cigs. Secondly, passengers are confused by the vapor produced from electronic cigarettes and are worried that they could be passively inhaling unwanted chemicals when someone near them is using an e-cigarette.

Surely the US Government should be following the UK’s footsteps and be encouraging the masses to become more aware of the health benefits of switching to electronic cigarettes, especially as it could save numerous lives!

Click HERE and type the keyword ‘electronic cigarettes’ into the search bar leave you comments about the ban.

Check out E-Lites chat to Mike Graham on talkSPORT too!

E-Lites has long campaigned for a review of the government’s ‘quit or die’ policy to embrace alternative products that dramatically reduce the most damaging effects of smoking.

The policy unit says such products have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year.

Its annual report says: “It will be important to get the regulatory framework right for these products. A canon of behaviour change is that it is much easier to substitute a similar behaviour than to extinguish an entrenched habit (an example was the rapid switch from leaded to unleaded fuel). If alternative and safe nicotine products can be developed which are attractive enough to substitute people away from traditional cigarettes, they could have the potential to save 10,000s of lives a year.”

The unit has been encouraged by early trials of the devices, which could not only save many lives but save hundreds of millions of pounds in health costs associated with treating smoking diseases.

 The Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is now considering the approval of such products, which could then be displayed prominently in shops.

E-Lites Co-Director Adrian Everett said: “As a company, we have been working closely with the Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association (ECITA) to set high standards of quality and safety and to ensure the correct regulatory framework is applied to products like ours. Our products are regulated by Trading Standards under General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) and are CHIP compliant (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply). Through ECITA, we have gone many steps further and achieved The Industry Standard of Excellence, which includes independent laboratory analysis and testing.

“This latest news is a great step forward in public and government acceptance of E-Lites and the many benefits of making them more widely available to smokers. Recent figures from the NHS Information Centre show that of the 788,000 people who used quit services last year, more than half returned to smoking shortly afterwards. So there simply has to be another way that involves taking away the harmful effects of smoking tobacco cigarettes.”

E-Lites recently launched its latest range, comprising the most advanced electronic cigarettes ever developed. These next-generation E-Lites feature unique micro-technology to give smokers the most realistic, simple and reliable alternative to conventional cigarettes, but with the advantages of being significantly healthier, much less expensive and unrestricted for use in most public places.

Check out the Daily Mail's article

Keith Brown, 25, was only able to compete in the event after switching from traditional cigarettes to the healthier alternative of E-Lites electronic cigarettes, which are free of tobacco, tar and carbon monoxide.

Having smoked for 10 years, Keith says he feels fitter and stronger than ever and could not have contemplated such an athletic challenge before making the switch to E-Lites.

Inspired by the change in his lifestyle, he contacted E-Lites and was delighted to receive generous sponsorship and support from the Birmingham-based company.

Keith completed the 13.5-mile run in an impressive one hour and 33 minutes with his housemate and training partner, Ben Stein, finishing close behind in one hour and 38 minutes.

E-LItes co-director Dermot Ryan said: “We get phone calls and emails from customers every week telling us what a difference E-Lites have made to their lives. These are people who have smoked tobacco cigarettes for many years, in some cases, and are now pursuing a new lifestyle by switching to electronic cigarettes. It was great to hear from Keith and Ben and we’re only too pleased to support them.”

E-Lites give users the familiar feeling of smoking, but without the most harmful ingredients, such as tobacco, tar and added carbon monoxide.

Keith said: “Both Ben and I are really pleased with what we achieved. We’ve been training very hard the last few weeks and thanks to the support of the crowd, along with our friends and family, we’ve raised a great sum.

“It’s fantastic that E-Lites kindly agreed to sponsor us. We couldn’t do this without them; not least because I was a smoker who only felt fit enough to take on a physical challenge of this magnitude after switching from tobacco cigarettes to E-Lites electronic cigarettes. A half-marathon is something I could not have imagined doing previously. Smoking tobacco does so much damage to lungs and you kind of take them for granted, when you use them like you do when your training you start to value them a bit more. We hope that, in addition to raising funds for charity, we can also raise awareness of the great alternative that E-Lites offers to smokers who can’t give up their nicotine habit.”

To donate to Keith and Ben’s worthwhile charity event, please visit www.justgiving.com/KeithandBen

If you’re already using E-Lites, or are about to purchase your starter kit, then it’s probably useful for us to give you the low-down on all the smoking laws throughout the UK.

If you’re from England you may have noticed the increasing amount of electronic cigs popping up on shopping websites. This is largely down to the smoking ban enforced in 2007, under the Health Act. The ban insists that all public places e.g. restaurants, pubs, and bus stops, are considered ‘no smoking’ areas and anyone caught smoking outside the designated smoking areas will be slapped with a £50 fine.

The same goes for Scotland; its nationwide smoking ban was put into effect in 2006 under the Smoking, Health and Social Care Act. The law states that smoking is disallowed in enclosed public places and again you can expect a £50 charge for sparking up in these areas.

In July this year the Welsh Assembly have been looking into banning smoking in cars which contain passengers younger than 18-years-old, this law is mostly to increase awareness of the danger of passive smoking to parents.

Northern Ireland follows the same system in England and Wales. Its smoking ban was enforced in 2007 with smoking prohibited in public places and the work place.

It’s thought that pubs and restaurants have not been negatively affected by the ban; however owners can face charges of anything from £2000 for allowing people to smoke on their premises.

Whether you support or despise the smoking laws, you know you can always bypass them with E-Lites. That’s 1 - Nil to E-Lites!

Finance is an extremely important reason for smokers to consider switching the way they smoke. Electronic cigarettes are posing a real threat to traditional cigarettes as they are not only cheaper but also healthier.

In these dull days of economic hardship, unemployment and government cutbacks, the control of the domestic budget has never been more important for families across the UK. Weekly essentials such as food, fuel, electricity and gas have to be strictly planned and bought at the most economical price. 

The popularity of comparison sites, voucher concession websites and discount branded supermarkets has demonstrated the thirst for discounting within the general public. If a product or service can provide genuine value then the market place will react and potentially embrace it.

The tobacco industry is facing just this kind of challenge from electronic cigarettes.

Once the initial starter kit has been purchased, the refills make electronic smoking an incredibly cost effective alternative to tobacco cigarettes. When a smoker switches to E-Lites electronic cigarettes, they can expect to make some major savings. For example, A 20-a-day tobacco smoker will whip up a whopping £210 monthly spend, whereas if they switch to E-Lites, the bill is drastically decreased to £48 - that’s a huge £162 saving every month!

So will tobacco cigs be able to sustain their market dominance when faced with such a unique challenge? 

Adrian Everett of E-Lites believes that the tobacco industry is firmly on the back foot; “Our data suggests that we have high retention rates once a tobacco smoker makes the decision to try E-Lites. We have the most advanced E cigarette on the market which provides a truly satisfying smoking experience, when this is combined with the cost and health benefits (compared to tobacco) it creates a really compelling case.”

The E Cig is a far more economical way of enjoying the smoking experience, whilst still maintaining the pleasures of traditional smoking. Adrian continues; “The future of smoking is electronic, the sensation is similar to tobacco, but the cost savings and the lack of tar and carbon monoxide makes the decision to switch a real no brainer.”

The NHS Information Centre announced today that 788,000 people used quit smoking services in England this year at a cost of £84.3m but more than half of them (384,000) returned to smoking shortly afterwards. Even among those who did quit, many are likely to have returned to smoking in the subsequent months.

The new figures prove that the quit smoking policy is failing to save a large proportion of smokers from the most harmful effects of cigarettes, according to leading UK electronic cigarette manufacturer E-Lites.

The company is calling for a closer look at the benefits of harm reduction, rather than a devotion to smoking cessation.

E-Lites director Dermot Ryan said: “What these new figures tell us is that while quitting services are helpful to many smokers, a majority of them are still not being helped. So perhaps it’s time to look at other options and consider the benefits of harm reduction. Products like E-Lites provide smokers with the nicotine they crave, but without the harmful carcinogenic effects of tar, tobacco and hidden chemicals. We believe it’s a far more realistic approach for those who cannot quit, or do not wish to quit. If only more people realised the healthier alternatives that are open to them.”

The team’s spectacular new 37ft powerboat was unveiled for the first time at a launch party at Salcombe’s iconic Island Street Bar and Grill, but the celebrations will not last long, as the team embark on a busy programme of racing, exhibitions and even a world record attempt.

First up is the UIM Marathon Classic the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race on 24-26 August. The boat will then be appearing at the Class 3B World Championships, held in Torquay on 1-4 September, where it will be the official start and finish boat for the three races of the World Championship event.

The boat, with vivid red-and-white livery providing a flashback to the iconic cigarette brands that once adorned F1 cars, will then take pride of place at the flagship Southampton Boat Show, where it will be the feature boat for the final three days of the event, from 23-25 September.

After that, the team have set their sights on a new world record attempt on Lake Coniston in October, before preparations begin for their entry into the RB12 Round Britain campaign next year, which will test endurance levels to the maximum on a 1,700-mile tour of the country’s coastlines.

E-Lites, which is additionally the official sponsor of the World 3B Championships 2011, is determined to be a driving force in the sport, and could hardly have chosen a better partner than BananaShark, with six British championships under its belt as a constructor, a Formula One British Championship and a pair of speed records at the hands of lynchpin John Cooke.

Adrian Everett, one of the founding directors of E-Lites, will be at the heart of the action as a co-driver for the team. He said: “We’re hugely passionate about the powerboat scene and delighted to be getting involved in a way that reflects the energy and enthusiasm we put into our market-leading products. That winning mentality should stand us in good stead for the many challenges we have set ourselves as a powerboat team.

“Perhaps best of all, we feel privileged to be joining up a historic circle by re-establishing that fantastic connection between cigarette branding and high-speed motorsport sport. We’re back in the race! However, things have moved on a great deal since the 60s and 70s heyday of those classic partnerships. This is 2011 and just as technology has powered the evolution of the vehicles that are racing, similar technical advances have taken smoking into a new age.

“With E-Lites, we have invested in pioneering technology to create the most credible alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Our mission has been to provide smokers with an enjoyable and authentic smoking experience – but one that is significantly healthier, better value and unrestricted for use in almost all public places.”

John Cooke of BananaShark said: “I’m extremely proud to be standing alongside E-Lites and launching such a fantastic powerboat after almost 18 months of development. Working with a number of technical partners including marine electronics company Raymarine and engine importer E P Barrus, we believe we’ve created a craft that will challenge the very best in terms of speed and reliability, which is the key to successful endurance racing. We have already planned a great deal of activity over the next year and there’s a lot more to come so watch this space!”

The Channel 5 switch-over starts this Thursday, August 18^th! With a confirmed 24/7 bar and rumoured contestants of Kerry Katona, Charlie Sheen and Amy Childs let’s hope they get some E-Lites ready.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t smoke more when they have a nice alcoholic beverage in their hand? And, with the British summer time proudly living up to its grey expectations, who is going to want to brave the cold outdoors just to get their nicotine fix?

Rula Lenska famously failed after trying to avoid smoking tobacco cigarettes in CBB4. Maybe Kerry Katona, who is welcoming all things healthy in 2011, and Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs who was recently worried about her children seeing her smoke tobacco cigarettes, should give E-Lites a go?

Is it time for Big Brother to take Big Stance and give housemates the option to switch to E-Lites electronic cigarettes? YOU DECIDE...well you can comment below this is!

Can you recall:

The Marlboro Maclaren Formula One car that James Hunt steered to his world championship triumph?

Alex Higgin’s victory at the Embassy World Snooker Championship?

Phil Taylor’s incredible run of world championships beginning at a tobacco sponsored event?

When you add in significant deals in Skiing, Rugby, Cricket and Tennis then the breadth of tobacco sponsorship was truly significant in the past.

As tobacco cigarettes sales decrease and more people turn to electronic cigarettes as alternatives, e.g. E-Lites. It will be fascinating to see where the marketers of these companies advertise their products. The evidence suggests that e-cigs will follow tobacco into sport. Recently E-Lites have sponsored Super Bikes and Power Boats and according to their Marketing Director they are also in conversations with several other sports bodies and stars in a wide variety of sporting categories.

‘We realise that sport is a great communicator and is often a major passion in an individual’s life. The previous strong association between sport and smoking means that there is a natural link between these two life style choices.

It is our ambition to replace tobacco with electronic cigarettes. We wish to be the most visible brand in the market as we honestly believe that we have the best products and we therefore need to project this message. We are in talks with some key sporting bodies and individuals. They are happy to be associated with E-Lites electronic cigarettes as they appreciate that we are far healthier than tobacco and it is thus a positive message to relay.’

E cigs have been quick to associate themselves with key celebrities and the sporting world will surely follow. Smoking footballers such as Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole could be approached for a deal and follow other celebrities into the world of electronic cigarette smoking, including Catherine Zeta Jones, Richard Hammond, Paris Hilton and Johnny Depp.

So get ready for some exciting developments in the world of sport and check out the E-Lites e-cigs Power boat that was launched this weekend in Salcombe. We think it may just be the first of many!

However away fans tend to disregard the regulations more frequently and toilets in away ends are often seen to billow with smoke at half time with stewards seemingly less willing to deal with the more belligerent away fan. We have personally witnessed flagrant abuse in many grounds including Manchester City, Birmingham City and Stoke City’s grounds last year. All offences were committed in the toilets at half time in the away end.

The solution for both fans and clubs is the adoption of the electronic cigarette and it seems that this is naturally evolving within the football community. Fans are independently taking the option of going electronic and being able to once again smoke whilst anxiously watching their hero’s battle on the field.

One such fan is Garth McClean a West Bromwich Albion fan who has been a confirmed e cig smoker for the past 2 years. Garth uses E-Lites and claims one of the main reasons he switched to electronic, from tobacco cigarettes was the frustration of not being able to smoke at a game.

‘I have always suffered from nerves at games and found smoking to be therapeutic during a match. This came to a sudden end with the tobacco ban and caused me great anxiety and actually stopped me enjoying games – and this in a season when Albion were actually promoted! A friend introduced me to E-Lites and after initially using it side by side with tobacco I slowly started to use only the e-cig.

This has dramatically improved my life, I am no longer consuming tonnes of tar and I can actually enjoy smoking again in environments where I am happy – pubs, football matches and cinemas!’

Garth’s story is not an exception; electronic cigarettes are turning up on terraces throughout the country. A large proportion of fans are once more able to combine their two favourite pastimes – football and smoking!

Brands such as E-Lites have carefully thought out potential issues for stewards by creating an illuminated green tip that is easily identifiable from the red tip of a lit tobacco cigarette. This is a brilliant innovation that guarantees a hassle free smoking experience for the fan.

The 2011-12 football season in England will witness a large scale return to the terraces for the cigarette, only this time there are no passive smoking issues and they are a far healthier option for the smoker. A winning formula all round!

G9 Diamond Core Technology

Breakthrough technology has given E-Lites unsurpassed longevity, with rechargeable starter kits (£39.99) that provide the equivalent of around 200 cigarettes and E-Tips refills that have a lifespan far beyond any others on the market. There’s also the option of single disposables (£9.99) that provide the equivalent of around 40 cigarettes.

The battery life of E-Lites is the longest of any other e-cigarette, and the E200 model comes in a toughened plastic case with a built-in USB connection for easy recharging.

New features include diamond core components at the heart of every product, which enable them to withstand the harshest drops and bumps.

Even the user experience has been enhanced to unprecedented levels, with signature tobacco flavourings specially formulated for UK tastes and an internal micro-switch that delivers the most precise and consistent delivery of nicotine vapour with each inhalation.

Available in Standard, Light and Menthol variations, E-Lites contain pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, combined with purified water and flavourings. This solution is converted into a vapour upon inhaling, which gives users the familiar feeling of smoking, but without the most harmful ingredients of cigarettes, such as tobacco, tar, carcinogens and added chemicals.

At a recent ‘Tobacco Amnesty’ in London to mark World No Tobacco Day, TV’s Dr Hilary Jones acknowledged that E-Lites were “a healthier option” for smokers who could not quit completely and preferred a product that is used like a cigarette, rather than nicotine patches or gum.

E-Lites produce an odour-free vapour, rather than smoke, and are unrestricted, which means they can be used almost anywhere.

The cost-savings are also significant. It is estimated that a typical 20-a-day smoker could save around £162 per month by switching from conventional cigarettes to E-Lites.

E-Lites Director Adrian Everett said: “We’re immensely proud to be unveiling not only the best electronic cigarettes we have ever created, but we believe the best ever developed anywhere. Over the past four years, the E-Lites brand has become synonymous with superior electronic cigarettes, not just in the UK but also overseas, where we are experiencing considerable demand. However, we are never content to rest on our laurels and this latest G9 range is the result of significant investment in research and development to produce the most distinguished electronic cigarette out there.

“The fact is that we are now in the 21st century and conventional cigarettes are becoming outdated. Smokers who cannot quit or don’t want to quit are interested in a healthier and more cost-effective option. Our unique technology and design innovations have made that possible and we expect to see E-Lites become prevalent over the next few years.”

10 Key Features of New E-Lites

• Extended battery life
• Long-lasting ‘E-Tips’ refills
• Highly durable build quality
• Easiest to use
• Patented two-piece design
• Built-in USB connectivity
• Diamond core technology to withstand bumps
• Signature flavourings
• Active micro-switch for even delivery of nicotine vapour
• Comprehensive warranty

Have you made the switch to electronic cigarettes yet?

A nicotine habit is all very well, but let’s face it – it’s getting harder and harder to find places in which tobacco smokers can enjoy their health-wrecking habit undisturbed. Smoking in defined public places has been banned across England since 2007 and in Scotland since 2006, subject to a fine of up to £50.

Dedicated smokers in search of that vital nicotine hit to get them through the day are instead forced out into cramped smoking shelters or simply into the rain and cold.

Even the right to a relaxing puff in your car may be under threat: the Welsh Assembly is currently considering a ban on smoking in them when carrying children. It is not difficult to imagine this restriction, as sensible as it may seem, being extended further if it passes into law.

Once smoking was a near universal habit, associated with rebellion, glamour and adulthood. But those days are increasingly distant and the overwhelming message sent to smokers these days is one of guilt and exclusion. But given the damage which tobacco does to health, this message is arguably in the best interests of the smokers and could help motivate them to switch to a healthier alternative.

One alternative to the clinical joylessness of the nicotine patch and the hypnotherapist is E-Lites electronic cigarettes. These deliver a controlled dose of nicotine with all the fun and ritual of smoking. There is none of the shameful secrecy of the nicotine patch or the drudgery of traipsing outside to enjoy a puff. As E-Lites electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, they are exempt from the public smoking ban! You can legally smoke electronic cigarettes anywhere!

The media certainly love to highlight bad habits and this ex Disney sweetheart made a number of headlines for smoking a cigarette.

Driving down La Cienega and Santa Monica the photographers caught her smoking whilst sitting in the passenger seat of a car. She quickly tried to conceal the evidence and began frantically trying to throw away the cigarette in a futile attempt at covering her tracks. As she moved quickly apparently in a daze and flicked the cigarette bud away, we wonder why she doesn’t just smoke E-Lites electronic cigarettes which would not cause her to be stigmatised by the public and vilified by the press.

Had Vanessa been caught with an E-Lites electronic cigarette she may have been forgiven by the public as it is renowned as the healthier alternative to smoking universally and supported by many of her more illustrious Hollywood colleagues. Electronic cigarettes are also legal to smoke anywhere so there would be no problem smoking in a car.

 In an industry like Hollywood it is easy to be lead astray and crack due to the pressures of the profession, however it is always worth paying care and attention to the image you portray to the public of your off-screen persona which is arguably more important when it comes to impressionable young minds who follow closely the exploits of their on screen heroes.

Smoking an E-Lites instead is the best way to avoid at least pitfalls of being caught smoking a tobacco cigarette, and we recommend everyone who smokes, to make the change now.

 I am not going to do this review on the basis of health, every western European smoker understands the risks and the arguments and quite frankly it bores me to tears. So you will not be getting the argument that e cigs are better for you from me. I am more concerned about the convenience, taste and effect.

 I like lighting up, I have been smoking for 30 years and it is something I enjoy. I also now like vaping having first tried it two years ago. However, I have yet to find a convenient mass market e cig that matches up to my needs. I have found prominent brands, fiddly, unreliable and their cartridges leaky......... Enter the E-Lites G9 series.

 E-Lites are a UK based electronic cigarette firm who have just launched a new generation of products. Their press office is claiming that they are the most robust, most reliable electronic cigarettes on the market. But how do they compare to the real thing?

 Convenience 

 I used to be able to light up everywhere, now I cannot. I am restricted. I used to love having a fag after an expensive meal, for some reason it tasted great. Now I have to exit said restaurant and smoke outside, potentially in the cold and wet.

 The E-Lites can be smoked anywhere, it is completely unrestricted so potentially I can revisit my love of a cigarette after a meal. That is a winner for me.

 1-0  to the electronic cigarette.

 Simplicity

 It’s a very simple process lighting a cigarette. I take one from the box and light it. Uncomplicated and something I have done for years.

 The new E-Lites are actually very simple as well. It is a two part system and all I had to do was simply screw the two parts together and stick it in my mouth ...very easy and totally uncomplicated.

 A draw.

 Taste

 As I said earlier I like smoking, I love the burn and I love the taste. Tobacco does it for me. The E-Lites will have a big job to measure up.

This e cig actually has a good taste, different to tobacco but close. I love the amount of smoke it emits giving me a good amount of ‘vape’ to draw fully into my lungs. It’s the best e cig I have ever used, however its not as good as my fags! If I wanted to say goodbye to tobacco I would be happy to use this electronic cigarette as it stands up and delivers, but I do not!

 1-1

 Effect 

Ultimately a tobacco cigarette is addictive because it delivers a nicotine hit, it is a highly effective delivery system for nicotine. The electronic cigarette is also brilliant at this. I got a very satisfactory hit from the e cig on every inhalation. No difference between the two on this apart from the fact that I do not smell of smoke when I use the E-Lite!

 Draw

 So, overall we have a tie - amazing! We therefore have to go to penalties, a most unsatisfactory way of deciding a challenge in my view. I suppose I am now forced to go to the health issue and concede defeat for tobacco...... I am not happy about this!

 Conclusion

 As a committed smoker of tobacco I will continue with my habit as I enjoy it. However I have now finally found an electronic cigarette which works well and tastes great. I will have no hesitation using the E-Lites e cig when I am denied my human rights and banned from smoking in public places. It really is a great alternative!

Hollywood icons Johnny Depp, Katherine Heigl and Leonardo Dicaprio are all confirmed electronic cigarette smokers and are at the forefront of a change in smoking habits. Depp was even spotted using a device in the blockbuster film The Tourist.

The UK is not immune to this new trend. Superstars from pop, film and television are converting to electronic cigarettes - including Top Gears Richard Hammond, Dappy from NDubz and the stars from the award winning ‘The Only Way is Essex.

 Why is there such a sudden shift towards e cigs? The most important change is the quality of the products that are currently available and leading the way in durable, reliable, high quality mass market products are the UK Company E-Lites.

 E-Lites recently launched their new G9 range; these products are hallmarked by their simplicity and reliability. E-Lites have striven to eradicate traditional issues with electronic cigarettes – such as leakage and poor battery life. The E-Lites G9 range have eliminated these issues and produced a state of the art e cig that is truly fit for purpose.

 The reward for E-Lites is that their sales are rapidly expanding and they are at the forefront of the electronic cigarette revolution. E-Lites are making their way onto the television screens with appearances on Sky News, The Gadget show, Eastenders and The Alan Titchmarsh Show they are also sponsoring some high profile events such as the world powerboat series, Darts and high profile music festivals.

 So are electronic cigarettes the new rock and roll? Dermot Ryan of E-Lites believes that the realisation of this claim could be when legendary rockers, The Rolling Stones, appear on stage in their farewell tour this year. ‘I would love to see Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on stage smoking an E-Lite. The revolution would be truly complete if these symbols of rock and roll switched to E-Lites. I am sending their management a full set of products and hope that the guys can be tempted to try electronic cigarettes and hopefully have a Damascus moment!’

Watch this space!

The company has issued a defiant response to news that tobacco giant BAT is planning the launch of a ‘nicotine delivery product’.

E-Lites, which has, over the past four years, developed some of the most sophisticated electronic cigarettes on the market, says BAT’s non-electronic nicotine inhaler is unlikely to win many fans among British smokers who are already switching to e-cigarettes in record numbers.

E-Lites Director Dermot Ryan said: “Plans by BAT to produce a rival device to the electronic cigarette could be viewed as a cynical attempt to gatecrash this fast-growing industry. Ultimately, we are confident that our new generation of products are the most credible alternative to tobacco cigarettes. We’re proud that E-Lites is completely removed from the world of tobacco manufacturing. We are focused purely on our genuine alternative. Can BAT say the same thing?

“Electronic cigarettes are making a major impact on tobacco cigarette sales. Advanced technology such as that contained in the E-Lites G9 range is creating a great alternative to tobacco. With products that are reliable, robust and satisfying – but much healthier – smokers get a very similar experience but can feel much better about it. This is surely the future.”

The healthier credentials of E-Lites were highlighted at a Tobacco Amnesty supported by Dr Hilary Jones, which marked World No Tobacco Day on 31^st May. He said: “Electronic cigarettes are another alternative for people who want to avoid the known carcinogenic effects and other by-products of smoking tobacco. I understand the addictive power of smoking and there are some people who like the hand-to-mouth habit and the inhalation of nicotine. If they can't quit completely, then this is a healthier option."

Regulation for ethical electronic cigarette companies, like E-lites, is through Trading Standards, supported by ECITA and its Industry Standard of Excellence. ECITA works closely with trading standards, the MHRA and the European Commission promoting a harm reduction policy through the use of electronic cigarettes. This ensures the products are safe and provide a genuine alternative to traditional cigarettes. The ECITA mark is essential proof that the product has been regulated and complies with British Trading Standards.

He was sat at his table with other invitees when he suddenly felt the common urge to go for a cigarette, of course meaning he would have to go outside which he did.

As the timing for his award approached ever closer producers frantically tried phoning around to rush him back in alas he missed the award despite being present on the occasion.

The award was due to be given by Wood’s colleague Christian O’Connell who was himself amused at the goings on. He looked around quizzically before letting everyone know Mr.Wood would not be able to collect the award.

After having a cigarette outside he walked calmly back to his table and asked of the others, “What have I missed?” There was no need for a reply as the organisers had to give him his award after the night had concluded, much to Woods’ embarrassment.

If only it was an electronic cigarette then this situation could have been easily avoided, as he could have sat at his table and smoked casually without having to go anywhere!

It’s very rare we get any get any negative comments about E-Liting in public. Occasionally in a restaurant after dinner or in a bar over a pint our customers will be approached and asked “errm are you smoking?” It’s curiosity more than anything and quite often ends in interesting conversations. Our customers often report chatting to people in the pub extolling the virtues of electronic smoking. With the benefits of electronic cigarettes being so obvious these conversations usually end up with new customers and sometimes new friendships! E-Lites are still waiting for the first E-Lites wedding!

Our customers also find that people often approach them when they realise the “smoke” has no smell and the LED on the end of the electronic cigarette is green. People want to know how electronic cigarettes work and if they really do taste and feel like ordinary smoking.  A lot of people have never come into contact with electronic cigarettes before so seeing and trying the product is a real opportunity. E-Lites know how important it is to educate and allow new customers to trial their product and as such trial their products in train stations, service stations, trade shows and much more. Getting electronic cigarettes out the masses is of key importance to us at E-Lites!

Producing electronic cigarettes that deliberately look very far removed from analogue cigarettes ensures there is no confusion when using in a public place. We know most of our customers have had a couple of second glances at times and some of them are asked to explain the product. Lucky for E-Lites our customers love what we do so usually these conversations end up with education and even new E-Liters! We do understand however that sometimes you just want to be left alone to enjoy your E-Lites wherever you are and producing electronic cigarettes that look nothing like a tobacco cigarette is one way of doing this.

On the other hand, the purpose of electronic cigarettes is to allow smokers a healthier alternative to smoking. With no tar or tobacco but a vapour that tastes and feels like smoking, E-Lites allow you to do this. The more similar the design of the electronic cigarette is to the analogue version the more comparable the experience.

Obviously, with the requirement of a battery an electronic cigarette will never be the same as the tobacco version but E-Lites spend a huge amount of research and development time weighing the product so that it feels natural in the hand. E-Lites are of the opinion that smoking electronic cigarettes should in every way be as close to the real thing as possible and we design our products with this in mind. We allow customers to choose a green LED though to highlight that it is in fact electronic. We also listen to our customers and are always testing new designs so watch this space...

Siegal’s study is one of the first that has given real support to the fledgling e-cig industry, he stated: ‘This study suggests that electronic cigarettes are helping thousands of ex-smokers remain off cigarettes and that they are worthy of further study using more rigorous research designs’.

Professor Siegals research into electronic cigarettes appeared online the American Journal of Preventive Medicine on February 8th 2011.

This week the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in the United States unveiled the nine new warnings to cover 50% of all cigarette packs sold in the country. The new measures, which include requirements for colour graphic warnings and will highlight the dangers of smoking tobacco, are welcome news to the E-Lites team. Showing people the danger of smoking highlights the benefits of using an electronic cigarette instead.

We believe the FDA should enforce measures that make it a requirement to inform smokers that all cigarettes are similarly hazardous and that smoke free alternatives like electronic cigarettes are far less hazardous.

The electronic cigarette industry have Senator Mike Enzi to thank for amending the Tobacco Control Act, despite vehement opposition from the CTFK, ACS, AHA and ALA, which insisted upon text warnings only.

At E-Lites we firmly believe that the new cigarette warnings should be geared towards encouraging more smokers try alternative smoking options - switching to e-cigarettes. E-Lite's offer a smoke free nicotine alternative which also reduces the risk of passive smoking.

E-Lites new G9 E-Cig range have been given their first ‘test drive’ by prominent electronic product reviewers ‘bestsmartphonetoday.com’

E-Lites electronic cigarettes received a very positive review on a number of different aspects including packaging, taste, battery life and pricing, with the reviewer concluding:

‘Credit has to be given here because E-Lites has improved its product a great deal from the first version and they are much, much better than before. I have a selection of electronic cigarettes here and at the moment E-Lites are my preferred choice.’

Recently we setup our 'Tobacco Amnesty' stall in central London for World No Tobacco Day - in a bid to encourage smokers to go electronic.

We had a great response on the day and thought we would share some of the user feedback!

We were joined on World No Tobacco Day by Dr Hilary Jones, who also talked about the benefits of electronic cigarettes in comparison to traditional tobacco ones. Check out highlights from the day in our video - plus some testimonials and reviews from those who tried E-Lites electronic cigarettes.

What are your thoughts on E-Lites? Please do share your comments with us using the form below!

The pioneering initiative took place on World No Tobacco Day (Tuesday 31^st May) and gave commuters at Liverpool Street Station in London a chance to  try smoking without tobacco, tar or chemicals by binning their old cigarettes in exchange for one of E-Lites’ revolutionary new disposable electronic cigarettes. E-Lites replicate the experience of smoking with a realistic-looking device that turns a pure nicotine solution into a vapour that is inhaled like a cigarette.

   

E-Lites director Adrian Everett said: “The response on the day was astounding and far beyond our best expectations. People were fascinated to find that there’s now a credible alternative to real cigarettes that is healthier, cheaper and unrestricted for use in public places. The interest in our Tobacco Amnesty proves beyond doubt that smokers who are struggling to stop, or simply don’t want to quit, are open to new ideas, and just as VHS videotapes have been overtaken by DVDs and digital downloads, we believe E-Lites will render cigarettes outdated before too long.” 

Dr Hilary Jones

Hilary Jones, who was at Tobacco Amnesty to offer advice and encourage smokers to take part, said: "As a GP, I'm more aware than most of the detrimental health effects of smoking tobacco. I see the short-term and long-term effects and have lost far too many patients needlessly through chronic lung disease and heart disease caused by smoking. I've seen the disabilities caused by amputations as a result of circulatory problems, again caused by smoking. Of course, we have NHS smoking cessation clinics, nicotine replacement therapy and various forms of medication available on prescription.

“Electronic cigarettes are another alternative for people who want to avoid the known carcinogenic effects and other by-products of smoking tobacco. I understand the addictive power of smoking and there are some people who like the hand-to-mouth habit and the inhalation of nicotine. If they can't quit completely, then this is a healthier option."

EastEnders viewers found themselves switching onto E-Lites in early May after seeing the electronic cigarettes used in a recent episode of their favourite soap.

Millions of fans saw new character Marta introduce Dot Cotton to the delights of E-Liting, the alternative to smoking that is healthier, cheaper and unrestricted in public places. Dot, one of the TV’s most famous smokers, was initially shocked when she caught her new carer ‘smoking’ in the lounge but was reassured when she found out it was an E-Lites electronic cigarette, which produces only a harmless vapour and no nasty odour.

As the UK’s leading electronic cigarette brand, we were delighted to be asked to supply E-Lites to the makers of EastEnders as part of a new storyline. The fact that electronic cigarettes were featured in an everyday scene is a fantastic example of how our products are being accepted by the wider population. More people are becoming aware of E-Lites every day and this is yet another big step forward.

E-Lites are always looking to sponsor worthy causes and they did just that whilst at the Gadget Show recently.

The Kube Player is another great gadget that was featured at the show. This fantastic technology company enlisted the support of E-Lites to raise money for a very worthy cause; the Birmingham children’s hospital. E-Lites were happy to support and generously offered a gift as a donation.

“We at the The Kube Player would like to thank you and your company for the generous gift to our fund raiser at the Gadget show live 2011.

Our raffle was a huge success, and that raffle would not have been possible without your help. The raffle raised £321 on the day and we have added another £321 ourselves to give us a grand total of £642. All the funds will be donated to Birmingham children’s Hospital so with your help we are hopefully making a difference in people's lives.” said the Kube Player.

For more news on the Gadget Show please click here.

The Gadget Show attracts hundreds of companies every year in a bid to showcase their ability and advancements in technology and we at E-Lites are no different! We boldly accepted the challenge and set about showing the uninitiated and the fans alike the results of strenuous research and development in our leading electronic cigarettes.

Throughout the day they caused a stir, were admired and marvelled at... and no, not just our lovely sales girls but the great electronic cigarettes themselves were the centre of attention for everyone visiting.

The E-Lites team was out in full force letting attendees try the fantastic electronic cigarettes which went down very well. The hall was brimming with augmented reality kits, 3D gaming device prototypes, ultra thin OLED screens, and even some nice assistant robots amongst some novelty gadgets such as LED lit mugs and clothes with RFID chips programmed to do some very clever things... Okay, maybe the latter could be useful some day!

Our E-Lites electronic cigarettes attracted a lot of attention from Gadget show attendees and converted many of them into happy E-Lites customers. Stole the show might be a tad too profligate a thing to say, but they were certainly getting all the eyeballs... well, them and the lovely girls, of course.

Mr. Stephen Taylor from Berkshire was impressed with what he saw “I have smoked since a pretty young age, it’s a nuisance to my wife and obviously bad for my daughter when she’s around me, so to have something like E-Lites electronic cigarettes which are healthier as they don’t contain tobacco, don’t harm my daughter through passive smoking, and are cheaper make E-Lites a genuine alternative”.

The attendees of the Gadget Show certainly weren’t the first people to try them; there’s been N’Dubz, Alan Titchmarsh, and the stars of The Only Way is Essex who have all had a drag or two on the new age smoking alternative devices. Look out for some great bank holiday deals coming up over the holidays too.

In true Essex style it was a glamorous affair with party-goers and celebrities all sampling E-Lites and enjoying the evening. The celebrities included Joey Essex, Lydia Rose Bright, Jessica Wright and Lucy Meck.

The UK press picked up on the E-Lites event….

The Sun          OK!          Mr.Paparazzi           Holy Moly   

Mild-mannered Alan Titchmarsh revealed his wilder side when he celebrated the 400^th episode of his ITV talk show by puffing on a cigarette in front of viewers and guests.

There were ‘woops’ of surprise from the studio audience but this was no ordinary cigarette. In fact, the housewives’ favourite was inhaling from an E-Lites electronic cigarette, which produce no real smoke – making it a perfect fit for national No Smoking Day!

E-Lites are rechargeable battery-powered devices that contain a small amount of pure nicotine, no tar and produce only a harmless vapour. So unlike conventional cigarettes, with their many added chemicals, this was not a weed for the famous gardener to worry about! And since E-Lites are also unrestricted for use in public places and could save a 10-a-day smoker up to £700 a year, it’s no surprise they are becoming such a hot topic.

Within moments of the broadcast, the E-Lites website, www.E-Lites.co.uk, was deluged as tens of thousands of viewers logged on to find out more.

Titchmarsh handed out E-Lites to his intrigued guests, TV personalities Jane MacDonald, Sherrie Hewson and Carole Malone, who were soon talking excitedly about these latest innovations.

The host said he was a non-smoker himself, but joked that he felt like legendary TV mogul Lew Grade as he puffed on the electronic cigar that is part of the E-Lites range. “I’m sure, if you’re a smoker, they are lovely,” he said.

The anniversary show featured several other guests including comedian Lenny Henry, boy band McFly and actor Nick Moran, star of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

It was broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 9^th March on ITV1, and is now available to watch on YouTube.

E-Lites BRITS After-Party at Mayfair’s ‘Jalouse’

As the Brits show came to its finale last night the crowd moved on to Mayfair’s exclusive members only ‘Jalouse’ Club for a party sponsored by E-Lites electronic cigarettes.

Spotted mingling with the great and the good of the music world were the media’s own stars including famous faces from The Mail on Sunday, OK, Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Sun, News of the World, Daily Record and more!

As well as the predictable showbiz gossip about Justin Bieber's eccentric hair and Laura Marling’s non-speech was much interest the novelty of smokers not needing to spend time on a cold corner of Hanover Square thanks to sponsor www.E-Lites.co.uk ‘s provision of indoor-legal smoke-free pleasures!

Said event sponsor Adrian Everett: “We already supply many celebs with E-Lites. The obvious security and comfort factors of being able to stay in the club are as significant as the proven health benefits of a no-tar smoke.” 

The night was an unprecedented success with performers including Take That, N-Dubz, Cheryl Cole all delivering great performances to a star studded audience including the Royal family.

The E-Lites team were there in full force as an official sponsor and all the top guests were introduced to E-Lites and given the opportunity to try the wide range of electronic cigarettes.

Fazer and Dappy from N'Dubz loved the opportunity to satisfy their craving and made sure they walked away with lots of E-Lites goodies for their crew! Jamie Callum thought it was an ideal gift for his partner model Sophie Dahl. Samantha Barks from Les Miserables thought they were "brilliant".  Russell Watson and his entourage were amazed while Robbie and the Take That boys were fascinated.

For many of the celebrities at The Royal Variety Performance E-Lites proved an absolutely vital accessory in getting through the star spangled occasion.

Also great news for all that are attending Gadget Show Live 2011, E-lites will be back again for their third year in a row!!

The new E-Lites.co.uk website launches!

The newly designed and developed E-Lites website has been created by award winning Leeds based ecommerce development agency Creode in partnership with Zeal Digital who will be working with E-Lites to expand the UK online marketing and brand campaign.

The new website aims to give new and existing customers a richer, easier and more involved experience in choosing and purchasing the right E-Lites products. Exciting news, information, content and competitions will also be available for repeat users to engage in through social networks such as the E-Lites Facebook profile and twitter activity.

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