They come in a variety of colors and flavors and finishing just one is equivalent to smoke up to 50 cigarettes
Young people have defined smoking as an activity. The cigarette has always been a symbol of youth in revolt, the rebellious and delinquent. James Deen smoked, Marlon Brando smoked; the advertising of the 1960s and 1970s highlighted the inherent sex appeal of tobacco consumption. However, the Marlboro fog has cleared from the days of indoor smoking and bright sexy packaging. The international medical community and governmental bodies have ensured stricter access to cigarettes and improved public awareness of the dangers of smoking. As such smoking has been on the decline, the ONS reported that smoking among 16-year-olds decreased from 15.8% to 14.5 between 2019 and 2020. But what will young people do without their symbol of defiance; enter the Elf Bar?
You might have seen one of these brightly colored neon sticks littering the backs of buses or by lampposts. You may have even used one yourself. They come in a variety of colors and a variety of flavors to match – apple peach, peach ice, cream tobacco, cherry cola, mad blue, mango, mango milk ice… the list goes on. Essentially they’re E-cigarettes and they’re certainly not the first E-cigarette company to hit the scene. Of course, there were the heavy hitters like Juul and Smok; the shisha pens every 16-year-old had back in 2015, and more advanced vapes which you could swap out its ‘coil’ and ‘sub-ohm tank’ like swapping out parts of a car.
Elf bars are one of a kind
Elf Bars are different though, they’re special. First, they eliminate the hassle of recharging, refilling, or needing extra attachments like the flavor pods required for a Juul. Elf Bars make it simple: select your bar and puff away, up to 600 times in fact. No coils no pods no whatsamawhosits. Secondly, and rather more superficially, Elf Bars (and their closely related cousin the Geek Bar), are bright and colorful. They have bold identities that ignite conversations with friends about the colors and flavors defining you and your Elf Bar.
It’s no wonder why Gen-Zs are obsessed with these trendy new cigarette alternatives. It’s also no surprise of their popularity on TikTok with the #elfbar hashtag on TikTok, which already has 666 million views (spooky) and counting, and is full of videos of students disrupting class. They cost less than a fiver, and if you dislike the flavor, you can toss it and buy another easily. Vaping as a lifestyle/social habit has very much supplanted vaping as a tool to ween people off of cigarettes. Recent data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows that 11.2% of UK youth aged 11 to 17 vaped. And here we are, with 2022’s multi-flavored symbol of youth. However, finishing a whole bar equals smoking up to 50 cigarettes, which harms both your health and the environment.
The confusion surrounding the legal right to purchase them has led to their prevalence among youth. Under-18s can easily obtain an Elf Bar compared to alcohol or cigarettes because of confusion over legal age restrictions. Many shops mistakenly believe that the legal age for purchasing vapes is 16. Furthermore, they can easily be purchased online from online retailers or sights like eBay.
However, these disposable E-cigarettes still contain nicotine, the addictive substance found in cigarettes. The consumer advocacy group Drug Watch reports that common side effects of vaping include a scratchy sensation in the mouth and throat. Other effects can include heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and headaches.
Also, note the disposable part of ‘disposable cigarette’. Disposing of vape pens may appear trivial, but investigative reports highlight their considerable environmental impact. The influx of cheap, disposable vapes flooding the UK market exacerbates this issue. They are primarily made from inexpensive single-use plastics. Their packaging includes recycling directions, but the process is often laborious and complicated. As a result, around 10 tonnes of lithium end up in landfills or waste incinerators each year due to improper recycling.
While it’s positive that fewer children smoke, we must remain aware and cautious of the health and environmental impacts of new products.
