Adult smokers today have the option of exploring different experiences than smoking cigarettes. There are better choices available to you if you are an adult smoker who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products, are curious about alternatives to smoking, and are looking to make a switch to a different sort of product.

What are the different options for smoking alternatives?

There are two main groups of smoking alternatives:
1. Heated tobacco, or “heat-not-burn” products, and;
2. E-cigarettes.

Heated Tobacco Products as a Smoking Alternative

Heated tobacco, or “heat-not-burn” devices, are smoke-free alternatives. Heated tobacco devices utilize real tobacco that is specially processed and formed into sticks. The tobacco sticks are then inserted into the device, where the tobacco is heated to specific temperatures, but never high enough to cause the tobacco to burn. As with e-cigarettes, there is also no smoke produced with heated tobacco.

Some heat-not-burn devices utilize an external heating source, meaning the tobacco stick is heated all the way around, from the outside. In this instance, the tobacco is not heated first; rather, the paper around the tobacco stick is heated first. This may impact the taste. Other heat-not-burn devices, such as IQOS, contain a ceramic heating blade. A HEETS tobacco stick is inserted directly onto the blade, which then heats the tobacco directly from the core. This allows the tobacco to be heated first, before the paper, which delivers a more consistent taste and experience, making it a better choice.

E-Cigarettes are an Alternative to Smoking

E-cigarettes are smoking alternatives that do not use real tobacco. They are electronic products that heat e-liquids instead, in a wide range of temperatures, from 100 degrees C to 250 degrees C. Most utilize a system called “wick & coil”, where the wick draws the e-liquid, which contains flavours and nicotine, onto a coil element to heat it and create a vapour. The vapour is drawn from the device through a mouthpiece.

E-cigarettes are commonly called “vapes” or “vaping systems”. Some of these have an open tank system that is fully customizable. Other e-cigarettes have closed vaping systems, where they are either single-use, rechargeable, or contain cartridges.

How are smoke-free alternatives different than smoking cigarettes?

The main similarity between these two choices is what makes them “smoke-free”: a complete lack of combustion – or burning – of tobacco.

Cigarettes must be lit to be smoked, and lighting a cigarette causes combustion. The lit end of cigarettes can reach temperatures above 600 degrees C, causing the tobacco to burn.

On the other hand, smoke-free alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco eliminate combustion all together. But there is a huge difference between the two: with e-cigarettes, there is no tobacco involved, whereas with heated tobacco products, real tobacco is heated to specific temperatures without burning it.

For example, IQOS heats tobacco to temperatures below 350 degrees C. As a result, no smoke is produced, only a tobacco vapour.

The elimination of combustion in smoke-free alternatives also come with benefits – IQOS produces no ash and does not produce smoke. Without a lit end, IQOS has no risk of burning others around you, clothes, or furniture. Specifically, with IQOS, adult smokers are still able to experience real tobacco, and get real tobacco taste, just with all the added benefits of a smoke-free alternative.

For adult smokers looking for other types of tobacco experiences, IQOS is a better choice than continued smoking.

Important information: This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.