Vapeboss – Saudi Arabia is a country with a relatively high smoking rate, even though smoking is considered taboo there. The Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association estimates that the number of smokers in Saudi Arabia is almost 6 million people. This number is projected to increase to 10 million by 2020, or approximately 30 percent of the population. More Saudis are quitting cigarettes and joining the vaping trend that is sweeping the world today.

Uniquely, there are no explicit laws prohibiting vaping in Saudi Arabia, and vapers are free to engage in the activity in public, but there is no legal way to obtain vape devices, vape liquid, or any equipment needed for vaping. However, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment officially banned the sale of all e-cigarette or vaping products in September 2015.

Saudi law prohibits the sale of such items and considers anyone bringing them from abroad to be smuggling, subject to fines and confiscation of the items. The sales ban has forced vapers in the Saudi Kingdom to seek alternative methods to purchase vape supplies. Although its legality is questionable, vapers are still confused as they are unsure whether they are breaking the law in their country.

Is vaping better for your health than smoking? The healthiest way to smoke is not to smoke at all, but vaping is often presented as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. Vapes can still deliver a dose of nicotine to the body without the toxins and damage from smoke. Nevertheless, vape products on the market come with warnings identical to those on cigarette packs. For adults only, no health benefits, and significant health risks.

Despite this uncertainty, vaping has become increasingly popular in Saudi Arabia in the last decade, especially among the country's youth. Mohammed Idrees, a 35-year-old lawyer from Jeddah, says he uses vaping as a way to quit his smoking habit. He uses Juul, a branded vape mod designed to help wean smokers off cigarettes. "As a bonus, it's also cheaper than my old smoking habit," he said.

Nasser Riyadh, a 24-year-old programmer, says he only vapes occasionally to relieve stress. "I've been vaping two or three times a week for about a year," he said. "It keeps me calm and helps me stay sane after a really tough day at work."

In Saudi Arabia, most people who choose to vape risk dealing with the law to maintain their habit.

Source: ARABNEWS

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