It may sound stupidly ridiculous, but yes, electronic cigarettes are officially being smoked as a substitute to normal cigarettes. They are found to be consumed mainly in china, where the electronic cigarette was first designed. Other countries across Europe are also promoting electronic cigarettes as the safer and environmentally friendly cigarette. They cost $208 each and are already available to smokers in China, Israel, and Turkey.
The concept behind the electronic cigarette is to emulate the smoking of a real cigarette, but at the same time without the outlet of all the harmful chemicals that come of cigarettes when smoked. The electronic cigarettes maintain this idea, while it is proven by scientists that no smoke, tar, or carbon monoxide is released from the electronic cigarette. The nicotine from an electronic cigarette is taken to the lungs in the space of 6-10 seconds from inhalation; this is considered to be a far quicker stimulation than of normal cigarettes.
Golden Dragon, the Chinese company that acquires the electronic cigarette demonstrated that they are becoming ever more popular along with many of there other products that aim to steer smokers away from normal cigarettes. Their financial figures prove this, while the electronic cigarette was released in 2005, Golden Dragon recorded a turnover volume of HK$136million, which rose to HK$286million in 2006, and they are expecting sales to further more increase this year.
In China alone there are over 400million smokers, of that number an estimated 10% are attempting to quit the habit of smoking meaning there is a huge market for products of this type. The conversion rate of those 400million Chinese smokers that are trying to quit smoking is at 2%, this is for successful smokers who have completely stopped smoking cigarettes in China.
Electronic cigarettes are yet to hit the market in the U.S. where already we have experienced other replacements for cigarettes appear onto the market such as nicotine gum, nicotine stickers, and even liquid cigarettes are on the verge of hitting the market. So the introduction of the electronic cigarette might be welcomed by most or are looking for a replacement to cigarettes, but the actual cost at the moment for the electronic cigarette could be very frightening to consumers.
