The State of Vaping in France: Rapidly Gaining Momentum

　　"Cloud chasing," creating spectacular visuals with e-cigarette vapor, is gaining momentum in France.<\/p>

　　There are two e-cigarette schools in France, where students cater to those who want to quit smoking and enjoy vapor. There are about 3 million e-cigarette users in France, most of whom are former smokers or smokers looking to quit. However, new users are emerging, and they are consumers who enjoy vaping.<\/p>

　　This practice represents the recreational use of e-cigarettes: cloud chasing. The rules are simple: two competitors exhale vapor accumulated in their lungs to create the largest cloud possible. The public watches the performance and rewards the most spectacular creations.<\/p>

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　　Sports, Sponsorship, and Customization<\/strong><\/p>

　　In Manila, the stars of this "sport" customize their e-cigarettes to increase the amount of vapor they produce. The so-called "boxes," modified e-cigarettes, are far ahead of the first e-cigarette models that mimicked traditional cigarettes. The first extreme vaping competition international champion appeared in the U.S., with professional players signing sponsorship contracts with e-cigarette brands. In France, this phenomenon is even closer, as e-cigarette users form a community with a shared passion and engage in friendly vapor competitions.<\/p>

　　Immersed in this e-cigarette vapor, one cannot help but wonder about the potential dangers of these rapidly dissipating suspended particles in the air. Nowadays, many scientists believe that e-cigarettes are much less harmful than traditional cigarettes and serve as a tool for people who want to quit smoking. "Cloud chasing, like e-cigarettes, is not inherently dangerous," Jacques Le Houezec said at the first Smoking Addiction and Trigger Summit in May.<\/p>

　　The only danger of cloud chasing essentially lies in the method of operation. Changing the casing or vacuum tube poses an explosion risk. "To increase power and create larger clouds, very low resistance is used," Jacques Le Houezec explained. "If we do not control these changes, there can be dangers. Fortunately, this practice is reserved for enthusiasts."<\/p>

　　Young E-cigarette Users Not Interested in Nicotine<\/strong><\/p>

　　A recent UK study investigated the habits of e-cigarette users aged 14-25. "They vape not to quit smoking and are not very interested in nicotine," said Fiona Measham, a professor at Durham University who participated in the initial study. They vape for two reasons: the flavors of e-liquids and cloud chasing (vapor tricks). Vaping has become cool, and it is also a social activity. Authorities recognize the importance of this new trend.<\/p>

　　"Cloud chasing has been developing in France for two to three years," said Loïc Frochot, owner of a large e-cigarette store Eway vape in Paris, where the guests are all e-cigarette users. "Vapor tricks" competitions create the most beautiful clouds. "It has driven other trends, making e-cigarettes appear elegant, like fine wine, with rich flavors, and like the watchmaking industry, with excellent boxes, appearing high-end. This refined e-cigarette represents the pinnacle of vaping. If we quit smoking and use e-cigarettes for leisure, we tend to prefer 100% vegetable glycerin, nicotine-free e-liquids."<\/p>