At Whatabar, we believe that as a socially responsible brand, we should help people correctly understand vaping through professional and transparent principles. "Is vape a drug or not?"This question is often discussed. However, the answer cannot be simply "yes" or "no". To truly address it, we first need to answer the following questions.

The Definition of "Drug"

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC), 

“Drugs are chemical substances that affect both the mind and the body. Their repeated use can lead to dependence - a state where the person feels they cannot function normally without the drug.”

It is clear that the definition of drugs tends to emphasize both illegality and abuse potential, as users often develop strong dependence on such substances.

Electronic cigarettes were initially developed as a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers looking for an alternative to traditional cigarettes. The goal was to provide a way to satisfy nicotine cravings without the harmful chemical substances found in tobacco smoke.

Is Vaping Dangerous?

While no nicotine product is entirely risk-free, vaping is widely considered to be significantly less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes. 

• E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings, and other chemicals to create an aerosol for inhalation. 
• Regular cigarettes contain 7,000+ chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Public Health England (PHE) has stated that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking. However, this doesn’t mean it’s completely harmless—it’s intended for adult smokers, not non-smokers or youth.

When you vape, nicotine is rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and reaches the brain within seconds, stimulating dopamine release and creating a pleasurable sensation. However, nicotine is an addictive substance, and since the prefrontal cortex of adolescents is not yet fully developed, long-term nicotine use may impair cognitive function. 

How Should We Protect Teenagers?

In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in e-cigarette use among teenagers, which goes against the original intent of e-cigarettes. We hope that more traditional cigarette smokers will switch to e-cigarettes, rather than having adolescents or people who have never been exposed to nicotine start vaping.In response to this phenomenon, the government has implemented relevant measures to protect adolescents.

• In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established regulations targeting e-cigarettes and their liquid solutions. Since e-cigarettes contain nicotine derived from tobacco, they are now regulated by the government as tobacco products.
• In December 2019, the federal government raised the minimum legal tobaccofrom sales age 18 to 21. 
• In January 2020, the FDA issued a policy restricting the sale of flavored e-cigarette cartridges.

Whatabar remains committed to caring for the health of every young person and upholding our social responsibility—we will never encourage underage using Tiktag. In our branding and promotions, we are also willing to clearly label our products and advocate for reduced nicotine use among teenagers.

Vape: Not a drug, But a Harm Reduction Tool

By definition, nicotine is a psychoactive substance, but it is not classified as an illegal drug. Unlike narcotics, vaping does not cause hallucinations, severe impairment, or life-threatening overdoses. It is regulated as a tobacco product (or consumer product in some regions) rather than a controlled substance.So vaping is not a drug, more like a harm reduction tool preventing people from harmful chemicals,while gradually reducing their dependence on tobacco.