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It's become an impassioned debate worldwide: Do e-cigarettes really help people quit smoking? While the debate continues, a relatively recent study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds to the growing body of evidence that e-cigarettes do help people quit smoking.

Here's what the study found:

Adults Who Quit Smoking Likely To Use E-Cigarettes

When comparing e-cigarette use with cigarette smoking status, a key finding of the study was that adults who successfully quit smoking cigarettes within the past year were the people most likely to have ever used e-cigarettes (57.3% of study participants) and to be current e-cigarette users (25.2% of study participants).

This shows that e-cigarette use is a popular choice among those trying to quit smoking and suggests that it indeed has a positive impact---though, this is not concrete evidence.

As for those who were still using e-cigarettes when surveyed in 2018, around 16% said that they were still smoking cigarettes while 22% had recently managed to quit.

14.9% Tried E-Cigarettes In 2018

According to the 2018 study, 3.2% of adults (those aged 18 and over) reported vaping regularly, and this is the same percentage as was recorded back in 2016 according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

On top of the regular users, 14.9% of individuals who responded to the survey reported having tried an e-cigarette in 2018 compared to 15.3% in 2016, and 13.9% in 2014.

25.2% Of People Who Quit Smoking Use E-Cigarettes

Of the respondents who had recently quit smoking (recently being defined as within the last year), 25.2% reported using e-cigarettes to aid the transition to a smoke-free lifestyle or as a permanent replacement for traditional cigarettes. More than half of ex-smokers still reported never having used an e-cigarette. As a manner of comparison, only 1.1% of people who have never smoked and just 1.7% of smokers who quit at least five years prior to the survey being conducted reported the use of e-cigarettes.

After reviewing these figures, the NCHS concluded that e-cigarette usage is most common amongst those who have quit smoking within the last year or two, and those who currently smoke too.

The Biggest Survey To Date

According to Charlotte Schoenborn, a health statistician with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), this survey of more than 36,000 U.S. adults is the first time that detailed federal data about e-cigarettes has become available.

The survey did not ask smokers and ex-smokers whether e-cigarettes had helped them quit---it simply asked if they had ever used the devices.

There are so many different types of e-cigarettes available today, so it’s understandable that people can find it all a little overwhelming when they’re just starting out. To help kickstart your vaping journey, we’ve compiled a basic guide to one of the most popular beginner e-cig types, the cig-a-like, and present to you the best cig-a-like for vapers in Australia.

Cig-a-like vaping devices are the perfect e-cigarettes for beginners. This is because they’re extremely easy and simple to use, especially for smokers who are switching to vaping. On top of all this, they're relatively inexpensive compared to other types of vaping devices. Over time, many people graduate from a cig-a-like device to something a little more powerful like a pod vape or vape pen. However, there are people who swear by cig-a-likes and have no intention of changing.

Whether you decide to upgrade to a bigger and more powerful device later on is entirely up to you. However, we recommend that beginners consider starting with cig-a-likes as they provide one of the best introductions to the world of vaping.

What is a Cig-a-Like?

A cig-a-like is an e-cigarette that’s usually a similar shape and size as a regular tobacco cigarette. The very first e-cigarettes ever produced were cig-a-likes, but this term didn’t evolve until later on when new products began hitting the market. It’s assumed that the inventor of the e-cigarette, Hon Lik, chose to emulate a regular cigarette with his e-cig invention because this would make it easier for smokers to accept the product and use it to quit.

As the vaping industry grew and people began using new products like vape pens and pod systems, the term “cig-a-like” was coined to distinguish smaller, classic e-cigs from larger devices like vaporizer pens.

We believe that the cig-a-like is the ideal starting point for many beginner vapers that are switching over from smoking because they’re very easy to use, highly reliable, and they do a great job of emulating cigarettes without the smoke. There’s no tinkering involved or troubleshooting that’s required before using the device. You simply take it out of the box, attach your cartridge, and off you go. Occasionally, you’ll have to recharge the battery or change the cartridge, but that’s about as much maintenance as is involved.

How Do Cig-a-Likes Work?

Most cig-a-likes consist of two parts: The battery and the cartridge. The battery is what makes the device work. When it detects airflow, the battery switches on and creates resistance to heat up a metal coil in the device. This coil is connected to a wick which gets e-liquid (vaping juice) delivered to it by the cartridge. When this wick heats up, the e-liquid that has soaked into the wick turns into vapour that can be inhaled.

You can use cig-a-like devices just like you would use real cigarettes. The e-liquid contained in the cartridge often contains just as much nicotine as regular cigarettes, and it’s this that makes e-cigarettes a highly effective tool for quitting smoking. Although, unlike with cigarettes, e-liquids like those offered here at Vaper Empire are available in a wide range of nicotine strengths.

The Best Cig-a-Like for Vapers in Australia

This is the V-Pack II Series cig-a-like kit by Vaper Empire, one of the best e-cigarette kits for new vapers.

With lots of different products available on the market, including several types of cig-a-like devices, it can be difficult finding one to start off with. At Vaper Empire, however, we have designed a product especially for former smokers who are just transitioning to vaping and need a simple product that resembles a cigarette and delivers a nicotine hit---the V-Pack II. The V-Pack II is available in various nicotine strengths, as well as nicotine-free, and comes in multiple flavours.

Very easy to use, low-maintenance, and ideal for use on the go, the V-Pack II is a cig-a-like device and closely resembles a real cigarette. It’s stored in its own portable charging case that itself has been modelled on a cigarette packet. As a super lightweight and slim device, it’s highly discreet and its long battery life is perfect for people who want nicotine hits throughout the day.

Each V-Pack II cig-a-like device is able to deliver around 400 “puffs” before the e-liquid cartridge needs replacing.

The V-Pack II Deluxe Starter Kit includes:

• 1 portable charging case (1,200 mAh)
• 2 V-Pack II battery stems (170mAh)
• 1 USB power cable
• 1 Australian power adapter
• 4, 5-pack cartomisers (20 in total)

And even though the V-Pack II uses pre-filled cartridges, there is still a large variety of flavours.

Do You Have to Begin with Cig-a-Likes?

The Vaper Empire Viggo Series pod vape is an excellent alternative to cig-a-likes, providing ease of use and enhanced vaping power with the benefits of nicotine salts.

No---you don’t have to. The type of e-cig that you start with is entirely up to you. In fact, many people choose to skip cig-a-like e-cigs entirely and begin with larger and more powerful products such as vape pens.

It’s important to note that this will be an entirely different introductory experience to vaping and may be off-putting to some. If you’re trying to quit smoking, it goes without saying that this is a less than ideal situation. That’s why we recommend starting off with cig-a-likes like our V-Pack II Series so you can ease yourself into vaping rather than jumping right in at the deep end. Another option that we recommend for new vapers is our Viggo Series pod system, which is only slightly larger than our V-Pack II, but noticeably more powerful.

Ready to Begin Your Vaping Journey?

If you’re ready to make the switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, our V-Pack II cig-a-like device is truly the best starting point. And as Australia’s premier e-cigarette brand, you know you’re getting an exceptional device that works well and is built to last.

If you’d like to see what else we’ve got to offer before you commit, check out the Vaper Empire vape store where you’ll find our full range of devices, accessories, and e-liquids.

Vape juice comes in a whole variety of flavours, with thousands of combinations ranging from the simple to the weird and wonderful available on the market today. With so many different vape juice flavours to choose from, building your own collection of liquids can be both a challenge and one of the most enjoyable aspects of vaping.

Despite all the different flavours and concoctions available, one of the most popular is that of tobacco. Tobacco vape juice is a common choice for those who are new to vaping and are trying to emulate the smoking experience. And although lots of people will diversify their e-liquid choices and start experimenting with new flavours, there is a great deal of people out there who opt to stick with tobacco vape juice permanently.

Tobacco Vape Juices

Even with tobacco vape juice, there is still a great deal of variety in terms of the different tobacco flavours available. Here at Vaper Empire, we offer a variety of premium tobacco e-liquid flavours to choose from, providing our customers with the best tobacco vape liquids for their vaping devices.

The Best Tobacco Vape Juice Flavours

With so many great tobacco e-juice options available, the Vaper Empire team has decided to put together a list of those we think are the best. We’ve rounded up our top five tobacco vape juice flavours available in our online shop so that you spend less time searching and more time vaping.

Here they are in no particular order:

1. Whole Leaf Tobacco E-Liquid

If you’re looking for the original and uncompromised taste of tobacco without all the bells and whistles, look no further than our Whole Leaf Tobacco e-liquid. As soon as you open the bottle, you’ll be hit by an instantly recognisable aroma that is as close as you’ll get to a cigarette without actually smoking, giving you exactly what you need to avoid harmful tobacco cigarettes while still satisfying your nicotine and tobacco flavour cravings.

Vaper Empire customers love this e-liquid because it gives you the taste of tobacco smoke without all the tar and chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

2. Tobacco RY4 E-Liquid

Perhaps you’re looking for a little more depth of flavour than plain tobacco but still want something reminiscent of cigarettes? If that sounds like you, you’ll be well served by our RY4 Tobacco e-liquid, a firm favourite which has received glowing reviews from numerous Vaper Empire customers. “Subtle hint of caramel and vanilla makes it extremely smooth without being too sweet. This was the first flavour I tried and haven't looked back,” says one of our customers.

Tobacco RY4 perfectly brings tobacco together with the richness of caramel and the subtle sweetness of vanilla. It’s a deep, multi-layered flavour that offers something different while still retaining a classic taste of pure tobacco.

3. Reserve Blend E-Liquid

Our Reserve Blend e-liquid has been specially formulated to meet the demands of people who require the deepest, darkest tobacco flavour possible. An extra matured pipe tobacco blend, this e-liquid provides the most traditional tobacco experience that’s possible to achieve with e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

Reserve Blend is a full-flavoured combination of carefully selected tobacco flavours that should be reserved for those who are looking for the big-bodied rich taste and aroma of classic tobacco.

4. Old Port Royal

For those of you with a bit of a sweet tooth, we have Old Port Royal. This is a full-flavoured e-liquid blend with a perfectly balanced flavour of aged sweet tobacco. It’s an ideal choice for ex-smokers who are looking for an e-liquid which is unique yet familiar at the same time.

In comparison to our other tobacco e-liquids, Old Port Royal delivers a more subtle flavour. It’s a good choice if you’re fond of the tobacco flavour but want something that’s a little less powerful. Another choice would be our Ragtime Raconteur e-liquid which blends tobacco with sweet caramel and mocha cappuccino.

5. Caramel Tobacco Pods

Another one for those of you with a sweet tooth, our Caramel Tobacco Pods have been specifically designed for our Viggo range of vape pods. This flavour combines the rich and warming characteristics of tobacco with light and sweet golden caramel, culminating in a tasty treat that’ll help you stay away from those disgusting, burnt-flavour cigarettes.

Other tobacco vape pod options include authentic fine tobacco pods for those of you that are happy with the basics.

Vaper Empire Caramel Tobacco e-liquid is also available in 10 and 30ml bottles.

One More For The Road: Virginia Gold

We know this is a list of our top five best tobacco vape juice but we couldn't help but add one more to the mix, Virginia Gold. Vapers who want a smooth tobacco flavour that never bites will enjoy the Virginia Gold Tobacco blend this vape juice offers. Exceptional dark and toasted tobacco with wholesome fullness are what you can expect from this smooth tobacco flavoured e-liquid from our own Artisan Collection.

Why Choose Tobacco Vape Juice

Whether you’re a brand new or experienced vaper, odds are that you’ll know somebody who swears by tobacco vape juice, and for good reason. Here are some reasons why people choose tobacco vape juice and why you should consider it, too.

It’s Highly Versatile

Tobacco is a highly versatile favour and it can be enjoyed in lots of different ways. Unlike straightforward flavours such as those based on fruits, tobacco is a multi-layered flavour that has a huge range of variation. Tobacco itself can come in several different varieties, and this paves the way for a range of flavours in the tobacco vape juice category.

It Pairs Well

Unfortunately, many people don’t realise just how well tobacco balances with other flavours. This is especially true of ex-smokers who associate the taste with cigarettes, which more often than not leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth. However, the rich and smoky taste of tobacco is a wonderful complement to lots of other flavours. Using the tobacco flavour profile, it’s possible to create a whole range of unique flavours by pairing it with fruity flavours such as apple or cherry or mix it up with sweeter flavours like vanilla or caramel.

It’s Ideal for Ex-Smokers

By now, we all know that vaping has become a highly popular smoking cessation method. To date, it has helped millions of people quit smoking for good. And as anyone who has ever tried will tell you, kicking a cigarette habit is no easy feat. However, tobacco vape juice can offer a way for ex-smokers to recreate the smoking experience without all the harmful chemicals, tar, and ash. Many former smokers have cited tobacco vape liquid as helpful in their journey to becoming smoke-free. Will you?

Visit the Vaper Empire Online Store

Looking to try something else? Don’t fret! At Vaper Empire, we stock a huge range of vape juices across two distinct ranges: Classic and Artisan. These ranges include everything from your classic fruit and food-based flavours to our own unique creations.

Visit the Vaper Empire Online Store if you’d like to explore the full range of available vape juices.

New vapers who are leaving cigarettes behind and switching to vaping with e-cigarettes are faced with a big question and that question is which e-cigarette to use. Two common choices for today's new vapers are cig-a-likes and pod systems, but which one is better? This guide from the Vaper Empire vape company is here to shed light on these two popular options and help new vapers choose the one that's right for them. With that said, let's get started.

What Is A Cig-A-Like?

The cig-a-like is what many people, especially non-smokers, envision when they think of an e-cigarette. It's a common type of e-cigarette and the first to be introduced to the marketplace. The cig-a-like, as its name implies, is like a cigarette, but not a cigarette. It's a type of e-liquid vaporiser, or e-cigarette, that produces an inhalable vapour by heating the vaping liquid inside of it. What separates it from other types of e-cigs and really what defines it is its cigarette-like appearance. Cig-a-likes are long cylindrical devices that, at a glance, resemble ordinary cigarettes. Hence, where they get their name.

The Best Cig-A-Like For New Vapers

This is the Vaper Empire V-Pack II Series, the best cig-a-like starter kit that Australians can buy.

At Vaper Empire, you will find a range of different types of vaping devices, including our V-Pack II Series. The V-Pack is a cig-a-like and it's one of the best e-cigs new vapers can use to start vaping. Smokers who are switching to vaping will appreciate how similar it is to a conventional cigarette and how easy it is to use. To use the V-Pack, simply attach a cartomiser containing e-liquid in the flavour and nicotine strength of your preference and puff on it like you would a cigarette, only without lighting it first. While it does look a lot like a cigarette in both shape and size, the V-Pack II does not require an external heat source like a lighter. Instead, the heating element is self-contained, and there's no need to press any buttons to get started, just press the mouthpiece between your lips and take a draw.

As the V-Pack II is battery powered, it does occasionally need to be recharged. But with the V-Pack II's portable charging case, recharging your cig-a-like stems on the go could not be any easier. And with room for a spare battery stem in the charging case, there's never any need for downtime as a freshly charged stem can be used while the other is charging.

V-Pack II Series cartomisers are available in a variety of flavours and nicotine strengths, making it possible for new vapers to find the right flavours and nicotine strength to fit their needs.

You can buy the V-Pack II Series cig-a-like kit from our online vape shop.

What Is A Pod Vape?

Years after the first cig-a-likes were introduced, a new type of e-cigarette called a pod vape appeared and quickly became one of the most popular vaping devices in the world. Pod vapes, while fundamentally similar to cig-a-likes, ditch the cigarette-like appearance that is a mainstay of cig-a-likes and aim to deliver improved battery life, higher e-liquid capacity, and superior vapour production. Pod vapes also tend to make use of a type of nicotine called nicotine salt, which is in many ways superior to the freebase nicotine typically found in cig-a-likes.

While not all nicotine salts are the same, nor are all freebase nicotines for that matter, nic salts are often formulated to absorb faster and hit better. In the case of our own nicotine salts, they also provide superior flavour.

All of this comes at a cost though, and that cost is a slight increase in overall device size. While pod vapes are often considered highly portable, they do tend to be slightly bigger than cig-a-likes.

In addition to all of this, pod vapes sometimes include features not typically found in cig-a-likes, such as variable voltage.

The Best Pod Vape For New Vapers

This is the Viggo Series pod vape system from Vaper Empire, the best pod vape on the Australian market.

A pod system should be easy to use and work well. At Vaper Empire, we offer one of the best pod vapes on the market, the Viggo Series. With the Viggo, vapers have before them an incredibly easy to use pod system that's small enough to fit in the palm of a hand and powerful enough to last all day and then some. Our Viggo pod system uses its own brand of vape pods known as ViggoPods, which are available in various flavours and can be purchased with or without nicotine.

The Viggo Series pod vaping system is equipped with variable voltage technology, allowing users to control their voltage by choosing between three preprogrammed voltage settings.

Viggo is one of our most popular vaping devices to date. It's perfect for new and seasoned vapers alike. With its long-lasting battery, quick recharge time, and powerful vapour production, it's easily one of the best pod vapes there is.

You can buy the Viggo pod vape from our online store.

Which E-Cigarette Type Is Best For New Vapers?

Cig-a-likes like our V-Pack II Series are a great place to start for new vapers who are switching from smoking to vaping because they provide a similar experience without the smoke. However, some new vapers will simply require more from their e-cigarette than what cig-a-likes can offer, which is where pod vapes like our Viggo Series come into the picture. If you need something more powerful than a cig-a-like and are comfortable with the idea of using an e-cigarette that's not shaped like a cigarette, then we recommend getting started with our Viggo pod vape. It provides ample vapour, plenty of battery life, and it's available in a wide range of flavours to fit your palate.

You can buy both the Viggo and the V-Pack II from our online vape shop. We ship all orders express and we deliver to customers across New Zealand and Australia.

If you need help deciding which vaping products are right for you, contact our customer support team by telephone at 1800 VAPERS (1800 827 377) or email [email protected].

Although the fierce debate surrounding whether the use of e-cigarettes is an effective tool to help smokers quit continues to rage on, both in Australia and around the world, yet another study has added to the overwhelming evidence that electronic cigarettes are indeed effective in helping smokers quit.

Despite this and other studies, hardcore naysayers continue to talk down vaping. In contrast, those who are for vaping completely believe in its use as a smoking cessation tool that provides smokers with an effective means by which to quit smoking once and for all.

One of the Largest Studies to Date

In one of the largest vaping studies carried out to date, researchers in America have trawled through data that had already been collected about thousands of adults across the United States, especially those who were classed as “cigarette smokers” by this data.

Those classed as such were people who had smoked more than a hundred cigarettes in their lifetime and were using cigarettes on most days at the time that they were first surveyed. They were also asked whether they were familiar with e-cigarettes or had used them in the past. Then, two years later, these people were followed up with to see how they’d got on over time with e-cigarettes. Overall, more than 8,000 smokers were surveyed.

In the original survey, less than four per cent of smokers said that they’d used an e-cigarette daily. Typically, these people were much younger, had a higher than average educational background, and smoked fewer cigarettes than the typical person surveyed. This meant that they were unlikely to be ‘addicted’ to smoking in the first place. Two years later when the researchers followed up, they found that this group was more likely to have stayed away from cigarettes than other smokers.

Also, 11 per cent of people surveyed initially who both smoked and vaped was found to have stopped by the time the follow-up survey was carried out. In contrast, only six per cent of ‘typical smokers’ who had not used e-cigarettes had stopped.

What Do These Results Mean?

The study's findings add to existing research which suggests that e-cigarettes and vaping actually aid smoking cessation, as the data shows that e-cigarette users were nearly twice as likely to have stopped smoking than those who had not used e-cigarettes.

Other evidence from countless studies, including studies carried out by official bodies such as Public Health England and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, has led to results along similar lines. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has weighed in, with an official representative, Dr Ranti Fayokun, admitting that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes. Fayokun's acknowledgment came in response to a question from a Filipino congressman during a congressional hearing on vaping regulation in the Philippines in December 2019.

Do Cigarettes Really Help People Stop Smoking?

In short, they do. E-cigarettes have successfully helped thousands upon thousands of people worldwide quit smoking. There’s no shortage of people online explaining how it’s helped them quit—this speaks for itself.

A major component of the cigarette is an ingredient called nicotine, a substance that our bodies are genetically wired to be tolerant of. Once nicotine enters the human body, it’s very easy to get hooked on it and this is how people become addicted to smoking. This is despite the widespread knowledge that smoking is incredibly expensive, dirty, and dangerous.

One way that people often try to quit (and fail!) is with the use of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and products, the classic example being the unsightly nicotine patch. These deliver nicotine to the bloodstream in a controlled fashion that is believed to be safer than smoking. Although these work for some people, there is evidence to suggest that they are not as effective as e-cigarettes in helping people quit smoking. In fact, a study carried out in the United Kingdom found e-cigarettes to be nearly twice as effective as nicotine patches and gum.

The V-Pack II Series cig-a-like kit from Vaper Empire provides the look and feel of a traditional cigarette without the chemical-filled smoke and tar.

The reason that e-cigarettes are believed to be more effective is because they mimic the look, feel, and sensation of smoking, making it relatively easy for smokers to switch. They’re also highly social and they allow users to control the nicotine strength of the liquid they’re vaping. This means that a heavy smoker can opt for a high strength liquid whereas a light smoker can opt for a weaker one. As a result, e-cigarettes provide smokers with a versatile tool to quit smoking.

In contrast, NRTs and nicotine replacement products provide little control over strength. While the e-liquid that's used with e-cigarettes is available in a wide range of nicotine strengths, nicotine gums and patches are only available in a small number of nicotine options.

Ready to Try E-Cigarettes for Yourself?

If you’re trying to quit smoking and are ready to give e-cigarettes a try, there’s no better place for you to start than the Vaper Empire online store.

At Vaper Empire, smokers will find a wide range of premium vaping products to choose from, including e-cigarette starter kits and e-juice in a variety of flavours and nicotine strengths. All of our products are designed to be easy to use, making it easy for smokers to make the switch over to vaping.

Quitting smoking is one of the biggest challenges faced by long-term smokers, and you are not alone facing this challenge. Studies suggest that almost 7 out of 10 smokers want to give up smoking for various reasons, including health and cost concerns.

Smokers also recognise that quitting smoking is one of the best things that they can do for their health. Smoking tobacco is harmful to almost every organ in your body, including vital organs such as the heart and lungs. According to studies, one-third of deaths from heart-related issues are the result of active and passive smoking.

As a result, more and more smokers are turning to e-cigarettes to ease the transition from smoking to quitting. But are vapes and e-cigarettes better for you than using tobacco products? Can vaping help you to sail smoothly into a smoke-free life?

Why Vaping? Here’s What the Experts Say

Long-time smokers who are trying to quit and better their health can benefit by switching to e-cigarettes and other types of vapes, research suggests. Health officials around the world have endorsed vaping in recent years in light of the findings of various studies that suggest vaping is likely to be much less harmful than smoking.

Highly notable is a government-mandated study carried out by Public Health England. This study, an e-cigarette evidence review in which independent experts analysed the findings of various studies carried out around the world, suggests that vaping is likely to be much less harmful than smoking. PHE's best estimate to date is that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, and this is supported by Cancer Research UK, a charity that is supporting vaping in the fight against diseases caused by smoking.

PHE’s report was compiled by several academics from reputable universities across the UK. One of the professors has said that smokers switching to vaping can remove all the potential risks that smoking poses to their health. To date, this is one of the strongest positive remarks made by any academic on vaping.

Some of the key findings of the review include:

• It is estimated that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking and that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks associated with smoking.
• E-cig use is associated with improved quit smoking success rates.
• Vaping could be contributing to tens of thousands of successful quits each year in the UK, and possibly many more.

Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

Based on a growing body of scientific evidence, some experts now believe that vaping is a lot safer than smoking. There is evidence to suggest that switching from smoking to vaping can significantly reduce serious health risks.

However, it’s worth noting that this is short-term research. Vaping hasn’t been around long enough yet for any long-term studies that look at the health risks of vaping over extended periods of time, such as decades. As a result, it will likely be years before scientists and health experts are able to fully assess the potential long-term health implications of vaping and compare them to that of smoking.

How Can Vaping Be Less Harmful Than Smoking If Vape Juice Contains Nicotine?

Many people believe that the nicotine present in cigarettes is the primary cause of smoking-related disease, but this isn’t true. Nicotine can be harmful to health in large quantities, but not the amounts found in cigarettes.

The problem with nicotine is that it’s an addictive substance. Once it enters the bloodstream, you want more. And that’s what gets people hooked on cigarettes. In terms of the harm, that comes from all the chemicals and by-products produced when cigarettes are burned and the smoke is inhaled.

"People smoke for the nicotine, but contrary to what the vast majority believe, nicotine causes little if any of the harm," Professor Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction at King's College London said in a statement.

By Professor McNeill's account, it's the "lethal mix of 7,000 smoke constituents, 70 of which are known to cause cancer" that are responsible for the vast majority of the damage caused by smoking tobacco cigarettes.

Here's Why You Should Consider Vaping

After careful consideration of the above points, including Public Health England’s electronic cigarette evidence review, you’ll come to realise that vaping is undoubtedly a better option than smoking that has already helped many smokers quit smoking entirely.

If you have made the decision to give up smoking and are tempted to purchase your first vaping kit, then it is time to dive into researching vape starter kits to decide on the one that best suits your beginner vaping requirements.

So, ditch your local tobacco shop and make the switch to vaping today for the betterment of your health!

Where to Start?

Vaping is fairly different from smoking cigarettes and it requires some getting used to. Fortunately, there are plenty of products on the market designed for ex-smokers, such as cig-a-like devices like our V-Pack II Series that mimic the look and feel of real cigarettes while producing vapour instead of smoke.

By choosing the right vaping device and an e-liquid (“vape juice”) flavour that you like which also contains the right amount of nicotine, you’ll be well on your way to ditching the dirty and dangerous smoking habit.

If you’d like to learn more about the different products that are available, visit the Vaper Empire vape supply store or check out our blog for more helpful resources.

To see what our customers have to say about our premium vaping products and how they've helped them successfully quit smoking, take a look at our customer success stories.

The Australian Health Department's previous proposal to ban nicotine e-liquid imports on 1 July 2020 has been postponed until 1 January 2021, but that does not mean that the fight is over for Australia's many vapers. Here's what you can do to fight the upcoming ban and make sure that your voice is heard:

Contact Your Local MP

To fight the Australian Government's upcoming ban on importing nicotine e-liquid, we strongly recommend you contact your local Member of Parliament to let them know what you think of the Government's decision to ban nicotine imports for vapers. To make it easy for you to contact your local MP, Legalise Vaping Australia, a grassroots advocacy and activist organisation that advocates for the legalisation and regulation of vaping and e-cigs across Australia, has put together a simple online form that you can fill out to quickly send your local MP a message letting them know that you are against the nicotine ban.

The Australian Retail Vaping Industry Association (ARVIA) has also put together an online form that you can find on their website that you can use to send your local MP a strong message urging them to overturn the ban on nicotine imports.

ARVIA also has an online form that you can use to send your local MP a message voicing your support for the legalisation of nicotine vaping in Australia, which you can find here.

Contact Your Senator

Once you have contacted your local MP, the next step is to contact your senators. You can use this form on ARVIA's website to send your senators a strong message of support for the legalisation of nicotine vaping in Australia and to let them know what you think of Greg Hunt's proposed ban on nicotine imports.

If you're not sure who your senator is or who your local MPs are, you can use this online tool on Legalise Vaping Australia's website to quickly determine who they are and contact them.

Sign The Petitions

There are a couple of online petitions that you can sign to show your support for vaping in Australia and to demand action from the Australian Government.

The first is a petition on the change.org website that was started by Australian vaper John Winchester, which calls on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to legalise vaping in Australia and save lives. This petition has already received over 7,600 signatures and it could use more. You can sign the petition here.

The second petition was created by Coalition MPs Senator Matt Canavan and George Christiansen MP. This petition created by Government MPs with loud voices has already received over 20,000 signatures. You can sign this petition online to show your support and ensure that your voice is heard.

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We strongly encourage you to share your vaping success story by using the hashtag #VapingSavedMe on social media. If you are one of the many Australians who has used vaping to quit smoking, please share your story and make sure that your voice is heard.

Vaping In Australia With Vaper Empire

At Vaper Empire, we serve vapers all across Australia through our online store. We ship all of our vaping products directly to our customers using express shipping, ensuring delivery in as little as 3-5 days. We carry a wide range of vaping products, including nicotine vape juice, e-cigarette starter kits, and more. For everything that you need to vape in Australia, visit our online store.

Have you ever wondered why people swap over from smoking to vaping? While there are many reasons, we're going to showcase some of them for you today, starting with yet another scientific study which has shown the lung cancer risk between the two to be completely incomparable.

Vapour Contains Fewer Harmful Chemicals

The study, which was published in the Journal of Aerosol Science, examined the lung cancer risk for people who are active vapers and anyone who may be affected by their secondhand vapour. It looked closely at the particles in vapour and compared them to the smoke emitted from cigarettes, and found that the amount of harmful substance that was emitted from vapour was substantially lower.  This study of both active and passive vapours has reconfirmed what we have known for quite some time now, that e-cigs are much safer than smoking tobacco.

Just in the US, approximately half a million people die from tobacco-related illnesses like lung cancer, throat cancer and other diseases. Even non-smokers are at risk due to the harmful particles emitted when others smoke within close proximity. A huge 41,000 people (or more) die each year in the United States due to illness related to second-hand smoke.

Studies like this are increasing the amount of health and governing bodies that are recommending vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking. They aren't comparable in terms of their effect on health. Vaping has proven again and again to be a very attractive alternative to smoking.

How Vaping Compares To Smoking

The study cited above is part of a growing body of scientific evidence that makes clear the distinctions between smoking and vaping. From what science has shown us, the consensus appears quite clear at this time: vaping is a much better alternative to smoking.

Vapour Contains No Tar

Public Health England estimates vaping to be significantly less harmful than smoking. At Vaper Empire, smokers will find everything they need to switch from smoking to vaping.

Can you imagine filling your lungs with tar and staining your teeth disgusting shades of yellow and brown? Well, that's exactly what you're doing when you inhale cigarette smoke. Unlike the smoke produced by lit cigarettes, the vapour that is produced through vaping does not contain any tar. That's right, there's no tar in e-cigarette vapour.

As for the staining of teeth, a study conducted by the research and development wing of British American Tobacco suggests that vaping may not stain teeth. At the very least, the study suggests that vaping does not stain teeth anywhere close to as bad as smoking does. So if you're a smoker who appreciates their pearly whites, then perhaps it's time you consider switching from smoking to vaping.

Research Shows Vaping To Be Less Harmful Than Smoking

Smoking and vaping are by no means the same and the latest research from Public Health England (PHE) really does well to make this point clear. According to PHE's expert independent evidence review, e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful to health than tobacco products like traditional cigarettes.

PHE's research estimates e-cigarettes to be around 95% less harmful than smoking, which is obviously more than a subtle difference between the two.

Perhaps the most surprising finding of their study is how many people don't realise just how much less harmful vaping is than smoking. According to their research, nearly half of the population in the United Kingdom does not yet know that e-cigarettes carry only a small fraction of the risk of conventional cigarettes.

Vaping Is Cheaper Than Smoking

With cigarette prices continuing to rise, especially in countries like Australia and New Zealand, which lead the world in cigarette prices, vaping is quickly becoming that much more appealing with its comparatively low costs. In Australia, cigarette prices are higher than anywhere else in the world, which causes many Australian smokers significant financial strain and even leads some smokers to look to the black market for cheaper cigarettes. A better alternative, one that's not only less expensive but also likely to be much less harmful from what research has shown, is vaping.

A pack-a-day smoker can save thousands of dollars each year by simply switching to vaping. As it turns out, vaping supplies are relatively cheap, even if you're buying the best that the market has to offer.

The Best Vape Starter Kits

At Vaper Empire, we have many e-cigarettes to choose from. Browse our vape starter kits to find the e-cig that's right for you.

At Vaper Empire, we offer our own brand of premium vaping products, all of which are available to adult customers through our online vape store that is always open. At our online store, you will find everything you need to switch over to vaping, including e-cigarette starter kits, vape juice, replacement parts, and accessories. We have it all and we ship our products express straight to our customers in Australia and New Zealand. So if you're ready to switch to vaping, then we're here to help.

Our expert staff of Australian-based customer service representatives understand the difficulties smokers down under face when trying to switch from smoking to vaping. That's why our staff is always available to answer any questions and help you choose the right vape supplies to fit your needs.

Visit our vape store today to choose the starter kit that's right for you!

We’ve all been there. You’ve seen people vaping and have decided that you want to give it a try for yourself. After all, it all looks so simple: Just replace your cigarette with an electronic alternative, job done. But when you start shopping around for a device and all the necessary accessories, things start to look a lot more complicated. There are more e-cigarettes and vaping devices than you expected, and you can’t decide which type is the best for you as a newbie vaper.

So, naturally, you go online in search for advice and this is where things can get more complicated still as experienced vapers throw around terms like “box mod” and “atomiser” like they’re common everyday terms.

All of a sudden, reverting back to the familiar comfort of cigarettes might seem like the easiest option for you---after all, why should you have to learn about a whole new world of technical gadgets and confusing terminology just to get your nicotine fix? How are you supposed to get to grips with the seemingly complex world of vaping before you can even consider using it to replace an expensive, addictive, and deadly smoking habit?

Information Overload

Depending on who you speak to, you are going to get a boatload of different information. If you ask 10 different people what the best type of e-cig or vaping device is for you, chances are that you’re going to get 10 different answers. And the same can be said when you ask what the best vape brand is, which shop sells the best accessories, and which e-liquid flavour is best.

So, where do you start!? Admittedly, choosing your first e-cigarette is no easy task… but at the same time, nothing worth doing is ever easy. Putting in the time and research to make the correct decision is definitely a worthwhile endeavour.

To make your research that little bit easier, we have put together this quick guide to the different types of e-cigarette and which type is better for each use case or type of user.

This is Vaper Empire's V-Pack II Series, a top of the line cig-a-like kit that's great for former smokers who are making the switch.

Types of E-Cigarette

Although there are a few different types of e-cigarettes/vapes, they typically all work in the same basic way. They use a battery to heat up a metal coil that is wrapped around an absorbent “wick” which is saturated with e-liquid (or “vape juice”) from the e-cigarette’s/vape’s tank. When this liquid-saturated wick heats up, it turns the e-liquid into an inhalable vapour.

However, there are big differences between basic cig-a-like e-cigarettes, vape pens, pods, tank systems, and mods, and it is important to know what these are.

‘Classic’ Cig-a-Like E-Cigarettes

Cig-a-like e-cigarettes are the go-to basic vaping product that looks similar to tobacco cigarettes, hence the name. They typically have small batteries and contain the e-liquid and heating coil in a “cartomiser” element. They are the simplest of all vaping products and are usually operated by taking a drag. Cig-a-likes are often disposable, however, reusable, refillable, and rechargeable options are also available, like Vaper Empire’s V-Pack II.

The VIGGO Series pod vape is the latest e-cigarette from Vaper Empire. Easy to use, ultra portable, and long-lasting. The perfect vape.

Pod Vapes

Pod vapes are a sort of “in-between” device that are more powerful than cig-a-like e-cigarettes, but not as much as tank systems and vape pens. They represent a happy medium between the two devices that produce a good amount of vapour that satisfies nicotine cravings while also remaining discreet and convenient to carry around.

They are ideal for people who need to vape a lot on the move but don’t want to carry around bulky devices and bottles of e-liquid. Depending on the type of vape pod system, users only need to carry around a couple of small replacement pods to see them through the day, if that.

Tank Systems and Vape Pens

Although cig-a-like e-cigarettes are very popular, tank systems and vape pens are the most widely used devices because they often feature better performance standards and last longer. These devices move away from the cigarette-like appearance, instead taking on the profile of something more along the likes of a marker pen.

They feature tanks to store e-liquids, larger batteries for a longer and more powerful vaping experience, and components that can be replaced when they wear out. Unlike e-cigarettes, tank systems and pens are operated by button-activation and sometimes feature variable voltage and airflow controls like Vaper Empire’s V-Twist Series.

Tank systems and vape pens are the ideal product for people who have just quit smoking and want an e-cigarette/vape that is able to deliver a significant amount of vapour which each drag. While cig-a-like e-cigarettes are great and serve a purpose, vape pens are better suited to some vapers, particularly those that need vapor production more powerful than what cig-a-likes can provide.

The Vibe Series is one of Vaper Empire's most popular vapes thanks to its high capacity tank, powerful 2000 mAh battery, and easy to use design. An excellent vape for beginner vapers and experts alike.

Vape Box Mods

These are the largest and most powerful vaping systems and come in a huge range of shapes and sizes. They are mostly box-shaped (hence the name) but can also take on a more sleek profile. Along with larger and longer-lasting batteries, box mods offer extra features and can support more demanding tasks and use.

Box mods tend to be used by serious vapers who like to “cloud chase”---produce thick vapour clouds---for entertainment purposes and those who simply need the best vapour production that a vape can offer. Out of all the vaping products, box mods bear the least resemblance to cigarettes. While mods are often seen as the most complicated types of vapes, we at Vaper Empire offer a comparable device we call the Vibe Series, which offers the power of a mod without the complexities that can make them difficult to use.

Want to Find Out More?

If you want to find out more about the range of different vaping devices and products available, you should visit the Vaper Empire online store.

At Vaper Empire, we design and manufacture our own comprehensive range of e-cigarettes, pods, pens, and mods that cover the full spectrum, from very simple to advanced. Whether you are looking for something simple, small and discreet or require a device that packs a punch, there is a product line for every type of user. And because we are widely recognised as Australia’s number one vaping brand for premium products, you can use our products safe in the knowledge that they have been manufactured to the highest standards and have undergone rigorous quality control checks. On top of all this, you can rest assured that each and every single one of our vapes is easy to use.

In June 2019, University of California San Francisco researchers published a controversial paper in the American Heart Association’s scientific journal that claimed that e-cigarettes and vaping could lead to a heart attack. In this paper, the authors stated that vaping and smoking posed a similar heart attack risk and that doing both together was a very dangerous option that increased this risk.

Fierce Backlash Leads to U-Turn

Naturally, this study was the subject of fierce backlash from the vaping community and earlier this year, after months of pressure from both the vaping and scientific communities, the study was retracted. However, due to the American Heart Association’s stature as an authoritative source and the study’s coverage by major news organisations including CNN and Yahoo!, the damage had already been done.

In a statement explaining the study’s retraction, the Journal of the American Heart Association’s editors expressed their concern that the study may have been based on misleading data. "The editors are concerned that the study conclusion is unreliable," they wrote.

This potentially misleading data stems from the fact that many of the vapers that the research team analysed as part of the study were both either current or former smokers. Current and former smokers inherently have an increased risk of heart attacks, so it is hardly fair to use these people in a study on vaping and then conclude that it is vaping that leads to this higher risk, not the smoking of combustible cigarettes. Following the revelation that misleading data may have been used, several scholars at public-health schools worldwide wrote to the Journal of the American Heart Association and demanded a full and thorough investigation.

Among those who signed the letter was David Sweanor, an adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa who has studied the global tobacco industry for decades. He said: "There are serious problems with the peer-review process and the reluctance of journals to retract invalid work. This has helped feed the reduction in trust in academia, and science in general."

According to the journal’s editors, it was a failure of the study’s authors to revise their findings prior to a prescribed deadline which led to the publishing of the data. On Twitter, Stanton Glantz, one of the study’s lead authors, stood by his paper and took a dig at the journal’s editors, accusing them of relenting to “pressure from e-cig interests.”

Although the retraction of the study represents a win for vaping advocates, it is a bittersweet victory. The paper’s conclusions have fed the fire of fierce anti-vaping propaganda, something which critics have described as a “moral panic” over e-cigarettes.

E-Cigarette Misinformation

Its publication also could not have been timed any worse, coming at a time when rising concerns regarding the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers are already skewing public perception and spreading misinformation. Unfortunately, particularly in the United States, there is a great deal of “fake news” spreading which pegs e-cigarettes and vaping as an unhealthy and dangerous activity. This is, for the most part, completely false and has the dangerous effect of putting current smokers off and stopping them from taking up vaping, which the UK Government is encouraging smokers to do after Public Health England's e-cigarette evidence review found that e-cigs are likely much less harmful than cigarettes.

What is the Current Health Situation?

What we do know at the moment is that in the short-term, using e-cigarettes and vapes carries fewer health risks than smoking cigarettes. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) have both provided statistics that peg smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths responsible for all kinds of illnesses such as cancers and diseases.

In addition, Public Health England (PHE) says that e-cigarettes are likely at least 95% less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes.

Why E-Cigarettes Are Better

Cigarettes are very addictive and the smoke that they produce contains tar along with thousands of chemicals, many of which are known to cause serious disease and death. E-cigarettes, while their name is similar, produce an aerosol known as vapour that contains no tar and is, according to a growing body of scientific evidence, likely to be much less harmful than tobacco smoke.

A common way people attempt to quit smoking is to take up nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) such as nicotine patches and gums. These deliver nicotine to the body in what is believed to be a much safer way, however, they can be ineffective for some smokers.

E-cigarettes, on the other hand, are very effective NRTs and lead to much higher rates of smoking cessation. This is not only because e-cigarettes mimic the look and feel of smoking but because the user is in complete control of how much nicotine their bodies are getting. With nicotine patches and gums, this is not the case.

According to the findings of a new study carried out in the UK, e-cigarettes are nearly twice as effective as patches and gums when it comes to helping smokers quit cigarettes.

Ready to Try E-Cigarettes?

If you’re trying to quit smoking and are interested in giving e-cigarettes a try, there is no better place for you to get started than our own online store here at Vaper Empire, Australia’s premier retailer of premium vaping products. Our online store is full of our own high-quality bespoke products, including vape starter kits, e-juice, accessories, and replacement parts.