Ever since they emerged on the market 10 years ago, the popularity of e-cigarettes has been rising. This presentation discusses some of the key arguments surrounding e-cigarettes, along with recommendations for life insurers in the process of writing, or revising, their underwriting policy. Read the full blog here: http://www.genre.com/knowledge/blog/e-cigarettes-cessation-device-or-alternative-vice.html

1. E-CIGARETTES:
CESSATION DEVICE
ALTERNATIVE VICE?
or

2. SMOKING
KILLS

3. The World Health Organization cites the tobacco epidemic as
one of the largest public health threats the world has ever faced.
Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century.
Based on current trends, it is predicted to kill
1 billion in the 21st.
Source: World Health Organization

4. Of the almost
6 million tobacco-related deaths
recorded every year,
600,000 are non-smokers
exposed to second hand smoke.
Source: World Health Organization

5. Daunting,
given the death toll
from smoking is
preventable.

6. HELPING SMOKERS
QUIT IS NOW
A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY

7. E-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine
Delivery Systems (ENDS) have
been hailed as an aid to smoking
cessation and now account for
1% of the $100 billion
global tobacco market.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

8. Though highly addictive, in terms of
health risk, the effect of nicotine is
considered on a par with caffeine.

9. Cigarettes release
nicotine in
smoke containing
7,000
harmful chemicals,
around
70
of which are known
to cause cancer.
Source: www.cdc.gov

10. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine
in a vapour containing only
one chemical:
propylene-glycol (PG).
PG is approved for use in
food, tobacco, cosmetics
and pharmaceutical
products such as asthma
inhalers. Hospital air is
even disinfected using it. 9174592768
Source: atsdr.cdc.gov

11. Though generally considered safe by agencies
including the FDA and ATSDR,
the long-term risks of inhaling PG are unknown.
Source: atsdr.cdc.gov

12. DO E-CIGARETTES
REALLY HELP
SMOKERS STOP?

13. Scientific evidence
that e-cigarettes aid
in quitting smoking is
inconclusive.
Many smokers
become dual-users
of tobacco and e-cigarettes.
Source: Electronic Cigarettes and Conventional Cigarette Use Among US Adolescents, Dutra L et al. JAMA Pediatr. Published online March 06, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5488

14. They are, however, gaining popularity:
in the UK, e-cigarette use has tripled in the last two years
from 700,000 to 2.1 million users.
Source: ash.org.uk

15. They are, however, gaining popularity:
in the UK, e-cigarette use has tripled in the last two years
from 700,000 to 2.1 million users.
Source: ash.org.uk

16. THE E-CIGARETTE
LANDSCAPE IS
RAPIDLY EVOLVING

17. E-cigarettes have
become big business.
And “big tobacco”
has moved in.

18. Much effort has been made to de-normalise smoking in
recent years, yet the design and advertising of many
mainstream e-cigarettes mimic their tobacco counterparts.

19. Many fear their popularity could
re-glamorise smoking, enticing
new smokers or discouraging
others from stopping.

20. “Celebrity vapers” and new
“fun flavoured” e-cigarettes
are drawing particular criticism
from health campaigners due to
their influence on teenagers.

21. Could big-tobacco investment be
undermining the notion that
e-cigarettes are devices that
aid in quitting smoking?

22. GOVERNMENTS ARE
MOVING TO
OF E-CIGARETTES
REGULATE SALES

23. Complete bans exist in
Norway, Brazil and Singapore.

24. Denmark, Canada and Australia restrict
imports, sales and marketing.

25. The UK has banned sales to under-18s
and will soon regulate them.

26. In the U.S., they will be regulated
as a tobacco product.

27. In New Zealand, they are regulated as
medicine, available only from pharmacies.

28. The EU will soon follow suit for e-cigarettes
containing nicotine above a certain amount.

29. id
It is hoped placing them behind the counter
will create a barrier to entry for the
94% of smokers who
start before age 25.
Source: ec.europa.eu

30. RECOMMENDATIONS
for
LIFE/HEALTH INSURERS

31. More and larger
long-term trials
are urgently needed
Quit!
to establish whether ENDS
can be effective smoking
cessation aids.

32. All users of nicotine must be
treated as smokers
regardless of the source.
For now, the issue for insurers is clear cut:

33. Cotinine screening (the routine test for
applicants who claim to be non-smokers)
cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.
Because…

34. Cotinine screening (the routine test for
applicants who claim to be non-smokers)
cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.
Because…
Individuals who remain addicted to nicotine
are in danger of using tobacco.

35. Cotinine screening (the routine test for
applicants who claim to be non-smokers)
cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.
Because…
Individuals who remain addicted to nicotine
are in danger of using tobacco.
It is highly plausible they will revert to smoking
or become dual users.

36. We can help.
As e-cigarettes gain in popularity,
the need to underwrite the
exposure properly is critical.

37. LOOKING TO DISCUSS
© 2014 General Re Corporation | This presentation is intended to provide background information to our clients and professional staff.
It is time sensitive and may need to be revised and updated periodically.
ON E-CIGARETTES?
OR REVIEW
YOUR COMPANY’S POLICY
Ross Campbell
+44 20 7426 1803 ross_campbell@genre.comp
Contact us:
e
or your Gen Re representative