Modified on: 07/06/2022
Buying vape liquids from abroad can be a risk. Here’s why
It is often said that “a penny saved is a penny earned”.
If you’re a vaper, you’ve probably already noticed how much you can save by putting aside traditional cigarettes in favour of e-cigs. Nice, isn’t it?
However, you might be thinking that you can spend even less by buying e-cigarette liquids that are on sale on many websites that ship them from abroad, perhaps from the other side of the world. Some of these offers really great prices!
Leave that bait alone now! Relying on such websites is a bad idea, and you may regret it.
This article will explain the risks of buying e-cigarette liquids from abroad. You will thank me after reading it.
Read also: Nicotine salts: what they are and how to use them
Why not buy abroad
I understand that the need to save money can lead you to buy e-cigarette liquids on foreign websites with dubious reputations and bargain prices. So many people think: “I buy a low-quality product, but at least I spend less. Maybe next time I’ll buy a better one from an Italian site. But not today. What could happen?”.
This way of thinking is wrong and risky, but it is understandable when applied to purchasing items that have nothing to do with health.
Do you want to buy a sub-brand remote control that will last a few weeks? Go ahead. You choose to buy a cheap blender from an e-commerce site so shady you wonder if it also sells assault rifles? OK, you’re saving some money, even if you have to buy a new one very soon.
But don’t think like that when you’re buying vaping products! The liquids you buy will end up in your lungs! Do you want to risk inhaling substances you don’t know where they come from and risk your health to save a few euros? Certainly not.
You should know that in Italy and the rest of the European Union, there have never been any cases of severe illness or death linked to the use of electronic cigarettes. But, unfortunately, as you will see in a moment, the same cannot be said for the rest of the world. And do you know why? The reason is that European legislation on the production and sale of vaping liquids is stringent and guarantees consumers the purchase of high-quality products that do not pose a health risk. And Italian law is even stricter!
However, when you buy e-cigarette liquids from abroad, perhaps outside the EU, you are no longer protected by this ‘regulatory umbrella’.
The American case
For you to fully understand the danger posed by e-cigarette liquids produced without following consumer health safety standards, I would like to briefly illustrate the case of vaping-related deaths that occurred in the USA in August 2019.
At the end of the story, you will realise that this is a borderline case of buying virtually contraband. Nevertheless, this story can highlight the risks of using unchecked products.
The story begins with the deaths of young Americans hospitalised for breathing difficulties. Investigations soon revealed that vaping devices caused the deaths. As you can well imagine, such news triggered a panic. The US government immediately took matters into its own hands, taking an interest in the possible harmful effects of e-cigarettes.
In the months that followed, the number of vaping deaths exceeded 3,000 and the fear of a ‘vaping epidemic’ spread beyond the US borders.
After several investigations, the truth emerged: the deaths were caused by the use of non-standard e-cigarette liquids purchased on the street and other illicit substances such as drugs. The ‘killer’ was identified as vitamin E acetate, an oily compound used in the cosmetics and food industries that can be very harmful if inhaled.
Apart from the deaths linked to the consumption of these outlaw liquids, there have been no other cases of ‘death by vaping’ to date, and there is nothing to suggest that e-liquids produced according to strict safety standards could pose a severe health hazard.
What’s the moral of this story? Don’t trust liquids of uncertain provenance. If you want to be sure of the quality of an e-liquid, buy it in Italy, or at least within the European Union, where regulations are stricter and more stringent.
Read also: Famous vapers: 10 VIPs who love electronic cigarettes!
In conclusion
We have explained why it can be dangerous to buy e-cigarette liquids abroad. The few euros you can save by purchasing low-quality products of uncertain origin are not worth your health.
In the USA, the carelessness of many young people who have used non-compliant e-liquids has cost them their lives! For this reason, only buy quality liquids from the best retailers.
Terpy is the number one shop for vapers in Europe. You can find many certified and controlled products on our website at a very affordable price!
What are you waiting for? Start shopping at Terpy.com now!