No comments
E-cigarettes may have only hit the mainstream during the 2010s, however, their history stretches back much further than this.
Today, e-cigs are used for many things and have a global following. From people who use e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking to those who use e-cigs just to be part of a community of like-minded people.
Although e-cigs have had a turbulent history and were met with a lot of resistance in their earliest days, they are a much-loved and commonly used piece of technology today.
The first smokeless, non-tobacco ‘cigarette’ device was actually Herbert A. Gilbert’s of Pennsylvania, which was patented in 1965 but originally filed in 1963. Gilbert’s non-tobacco cigarette was thought by many to be a safer and relatively harmless method of smoking because it replaced the burning of paper and tobacco with the heating up of moist, flavoured air. Just like with Robinson’s patent, Gilbert’s was never commercialised.
Although it was not an electronic cigarette—rather relying on the evaporation of nicotine—the duo performed the first known formal and recognised research in the field on alternative methods of nicotine delivery. Their device, however, was not a promising method of delivery and it never reached major retailers.
While their device was a dead-end, the duo did coin the term “vape” which is used today.
The company that Lik worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, helped develop the device and changed its name to Ruyan, which translates to “like smoke”.
Finally, in 2006, e-cigarettes were introduced to Europe and then the U.S., with the earliest import ruling available being dated August 22, 2006. This can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website database. The ruling reference for this is for a “nicotine inhaler and parts”, also known as an e-cigarette, unofficially.
After its introduction to Europe and the U.S., the e-cigarette really started to catch the attention of national governments and agencies.
In March 2008, Turkey’s Health Ministry suspended the sale of e-cigarettes, citing that they are just as harmful as real cigarettes. Kiyas Güngör, a Turkish official, famously went on record to say that “nicotine is the most dangerous element among 4,800 poisonous chemicals in cigarettes.” We assume that he later regretted these words, though!
Then, in September of the same year, the World Health Organisation proclaimed that the e-cigarette should not be seen as a legitimate smoking cessation aid and that marketers should immediately remove any such claims from their materials.
Some other notable events towards the back end of the 2000s included:
In October 2011, a report from the British Cabinet Office said that tobacco harm is reduced by e-cigarettes in its first annual report. E-cigs were also cited as a potentially effective substitute for e-cigarettes. The first-ever e-cig clinical trial, also held in October, reported in the BMC Public Health journal that e-cigs may be more effective for helping smokers quit than other nicotine replacement products.
Despite this research, countries still continued to heavily restrict e-cigarettes. In Argentina, they were banned in May 2011 and in the Netherlands, their sale and importation were banned in December 2011.
This was met with backlash from the vaping community. More and more vape-related events, such as VapeBash in Chigaco, were held around the world, and consumer groups organized the world’s first World Vaping Day in March of 2012.
Over time, legislators began to take note. Four U.S. Representatives---Henry Waxman, Diana DeGette, Frank Pallone Jr., and John D. Dingell---wrote to the FDA demanding that the Obama administration issue new rules on cigars and e-cigs. This was followed up by a letter from the National Association of Attorneys General urging the issuance of reformed regulations.
In November 2013, the first E-Cigarette Summit was held at the Royal Society in London. This summit was designed to be a platform for the presentation and scrutinization of available science and evidence on e-cigs, with the goal of informing public health authorities and policymakers.
Today, e-cigarettes are, for the most part, completely legal to import, buy, and use in many countries worldwide. With more and more studies taking place now than ever before, health authorities are beginning to truly understand e-cigs and are better equipped to provide reliable guidance to government authorities and consumers.
Despite all of this, there are still some countries that don’t allow the sale of e-cigs.
If you are ready to make the switch from smoker to vaper, our collection of starter kits, vaping accessories, and e-liquids will get you off to the very best start.
Today, e-cigs are used for many things and have a global following. From people who use e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking to those who use e-cigs just to be part of a community of like-minded people.
Although e-cigs have had a turbulent history and were met with a lot of resistance in their earliest days, they are a much-loved and commonly used piece of technology today.
The Origin of E-Cigarettes: An Early Timeline, 1920s to 2010s
The actual ‘origin’ of devices and ideas that resemble the modern cigarette is disputed, however, it is generally agreed to be either Joseph Robinson’s 1930 patent or Herbert A. Gilbert’s 1965 patent.1920s to 1960s
Joseph Robinson made the first documented reference to an e-cigarette in his 1930 patent that was filed in 1927. This was never manufactured or commercialised though, and it is not known whether a prototype of Robinson’s very primitive device was ever created.The first smokeless, non-tobacco ‘cigarette’ device was actually Herbert A. Gilbert’s of Pennsylvania, which was patented in 1965 but originally filed in 1963. Gilbert’s non-tobacco cigarette was thought by many to be a safer and relatively harmless method of smoking because it replaced the burning of paper and tobacco with the heating up of moist, flavoured air. Just like with Robinson’s patent, Gilbert’s was never commercialised.
1970s to 1990s
It wasn’t until 1979 that another attempt was made at creating the e-cigarette as we know it today. Phil Ray, one of the earliest computer pioneers, worked with his personal physician, Normal Jacobson, to create the world’s first commercialised variation of the e-cigarette.Although it was not an electronic cigarette—rather relying on the evaporation of nicotine—the duo performed the first known formal and recognised research in the field on alternative methods of nicotine delivery. Their device, however, was not a promising method of delivery and it never reached major retailers.
While their device was a dead-end, the duo did coin the term “vape” which is used today.
2000 to 2010
Finally, we began to see what would eventually become the first commercially successful e-cigarette. In China, Hon Lik, a 52-year-old pharmacist and inventor, created his e-cigarette device after his father, a heavy smoker, died of lung cancer.The company that Lik worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, helped develop the device and changed its name to Ruyan, which translates to “like smoke”.
Finally, in 2006, e-cigarettes were introduced to Europe and then the U.S., with the earliest import ruling available being dated August 22, 2006. This can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website database. The ruling reference for this is for a “nicotine inhaler and parts”, also known as an e-cigarette, unofficially.
After its introduction to Europe and the U.S., the e-cigarette really started to catch the attention of national governments and agencies.
In March 2008, Turkey’s Health Ministry suspended the sale of e-cigarettes, citing that they are just as harmful as real cigarettes. Kiyas Güngör, a Turkish official, famously went on record to say that “nicotine is the most dangerous element among 4,800 poisonous chemicals in cigarettes.” We assume that he later regretted these words, though!
Then, in September of the same year, the World Health Organisation proclaimed that the e-cigarette should not be seen as a legitimate smoking cessation aid and that marketers should immediately remove any such claims from their materials.
Some other notable events towards the back end of the 2000s included:
- Canada banning the sale, advertising, and import of e-cigs.
- The Hong Kong Department of Health banning and outlawing e-cigarettes.
- Australia making nicotine vaping products prescription-only.
E-Cigarettes from 2010 Onwards
It was not until the 2010s that e-cigarettes started to be recognised for what they truly are---legitimate and safe devices for the quitting of smoking. This was helped in part by the growing popularity of vaping and the community surrounding it, which raised awareness. In October 2010, the world’s first ‘VapeFest’ was held in the UK and continues to be held as an annual event.2010 to 2015 Notable Events
In February 2011, a study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. This reported, for the very first time, that e-cigs are a legitimate and promising tool to help smokers kick their habits and quit for good. Their study demonstrated six-month smoking abstinence rates that were better than those for traditional nicotine replacement therapy products of the time, such as nicotine patches and gums.In October 2011, a report from the British Cabinet Office said that tobacco harm is reduced by e-cigarettes in its first annual report. E-cigs were also cited as a potentially effective substitute for e-cigarettes. The first-ever e-cig clinical trial, also held in October, reported in the BMC Public Health journal that e-cigs may be more effective for helping smokers quit than other nicotine replacement products.
Despite this research, countries still continued to heavily restrict e-cigarettes. In Argentina, they were banned in May 2011 and in the Netherlands, their sale and importation were banned in December 2011.
This was met with backlash from the vaping community. More and more vape-related events, such as VapeBash in Chigaco, were held around the world, and consumer groups organized the world’s first World Vaping Day in March of 2012.
Over time, legislators began to take note. Four U.S. Representatives---Henry Waxman, Diana DeGette, Frank Pallone Jr., and John D. Dingell---wrote to the FDA demanding that the Obama administration issue new rules on cigars and e-cigs. This was followed up by a letter from the National Association of Attorneys General urging the issuance of reformed regulations.
In November 2013, the first E-Cigarette Summit was held at the Royal Society in London. This summit was designed to be a platform for the presentation and scrutinization of available science and evidence on e-cigs, with the goal of informing public health authorities and policymakers.
2015 and Beyond, Notable Events
Lots and lots of regulatory changes and worldwide events took place in the 2010s as vaping truly took off. While the 2010s started with e-cigarettes being heavily regulated, research, studies, and awareness changed public perception. Regulators and legislators, now with more information and undeniable evidence, began to back down and take a more relaxed approach to e-cigarettes.Today, e-cigarettes are, for the most part, completely legal to import, buy, and use in many countries worldwide. With more and more studies taking place now than ever before, health authorities are beginning to truly understand e-cigs and are better equipped to provide reliable guidance to government authorities and consumers.
Despite all of this, there are still some countries that don’t allow the sale of e-cigs.
The Benefits of E-Cigarettes
There are several benefits to using e-cigarettes instead of smoking traditional, cancer-causing ones. These include:- E-cigs are often much cheaper to buy and use in the long-term than cigarettes.
- E-cigs do not create any bad lingering smells, ruin clothes or stain teeth.
- E-cigs can sometimes be used indoors and in public places.
- E-cigs allow you to control nicotine intake through nicotine concentration options.
Ready to Make the Switch to E-Cigs?
So, you have now read about the history and the many benefits of e-cigarettes. With this information in mind, are you ready to make the switch from smoking to vaping?If you are ready to make the switch from smoker to vaper, our collection of starter kits, vaping accessories, and e-liquids will get you off to the very best start.
5 February 2020