Debunking myths around smoke free alternatives

As more smoke-free alternatives come onto the market, and adult smokers are presented with more options for switching from continued smoking, there are also some myths around these products. Sometimes a myth may come from a lack of understanding, and sometimes it may be driven by misinformation. Here, we will try to debunk the most common myths, and provide adult smokers with the answers to commonly asked questions about smoke-free alternatives.

Are smoke-free alternatives a healthy and safe alternative to smoking?

No, none of the nicotine-containing products are safe, including smoke-free ones.

The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. For those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, smoke-free alternatives can be a better choice than continued smoking. The reason for this goes back to the principle of burning that occurs when a cigarette is lit, which produces smoke. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, and about 100 of them are linked to smoking-related diseases.

At the end of the day, the majority of smoke-free products contain nicotine, which is addictive, and are not risk-free.

Are smoke-free alternatives the same as cigarettes?

No, smoke-free alternatives are not the same as cigarettes. Cigarettes require the burning of tobacco which produces smoke. The key difference with smoke-free alternatives is that in general they do not require burning and thus, do not produce smoke.

For example, heated tobacco involves the usage of an electronic device that heats tobacco and is intended to prevent tobacco from burning. IQOS and lil SOLID are tobacco heating devices that heat the specially designed heatsticks. The temperature is monitored and controlled with the help of the IQOS heating blade and lil SOLID heating pin. Both smoke-free alternatives release a nicotine containing aerosol, but no smoke. And while some heated tobacco devices may utilize tobacco sticks that may appear similar in design to a cigarette, these tobacco sticks are designed to be used with their respective devices and should not be burned or smoked.

Is vaping safe without nicotine, or is it safe to use smoke-free products without nicotine?

No, vaping is not necessarily less harmful without nicotine.

Many smoke-free alternatives contain nicotine, and this is especially true for the alternatives that use real tobacco. It may even be easier for adult smokers to switch from smoking cigarettes to a smoke-free alternative if the alternative contains nicotine. However, whether it is delivered through a cigarette or a smoke-free alternative, nicotine is addictive and not risk-free.

Are all smoke-free alternatives the same?

No, smoke-free alternatives are not all the same. There are many different types of smoke-free alternatives, meaning there are choices for any adult smoker who wants to stop smoking and switch to an alternative.

For those who want an experience that provides experience similar to smoking, heated tobacco may be an option as IQOS provides cigarette-like satisfaction.¹ While all these products differ, the one thing smoke-free alternatives have in common is that they should not burn tobacco.

Are smoke-free alternatives like heated tobacco and vapes harmful to others around me?

Due to the absence of combustion, smoke-free alternatives do not expose those around you to smoke. As many smoke-free alternatives are newer on the market, their long term “secondhand effects” are still not well known. However, in the case of IQOS heated tobacco, IQOS has no negative impact on indoor air quality², although not risk free.

Heated tobacco do produce an aerosol. While some reputable brands such as IQOS have data and science on the aerosol released by their products to make an informed conclusion about secondhand effect, those specific studies do not apply to this entire category of smoke-free alternatives.

Are smoke-free alternatives such as vaping not addictive?

No, smoke-free alternatives provide nicotine, which is addictive. Smoke-free products are intended for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use nicotine products and are not intended as cessation devices.

Should I switch from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives?

The best option to reduce the health risks associated with the use of tobacco and nicotine products is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. However, for those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, switching completely to smoke-free alternatives could be a better choice than continuing to smoke cigarettes.

Learn more about the benefits of switching to IQOS smoke-free alternative

Where can I buy heated tobacco?

If you are looking to switch to a smoke-free alternative from cigarettes, IQOS can be a great option to explore - and it’s an option that 14,9 million legal-aged users around the world have already switched to.³ IQOS is available Online , or you can use the Store Locator to find your nearest location.

Learn more about IQOS heated tobacco devices.

IQOS is a tobacco heating device that heats specially designed HEETS tobacco sticks from within, providing the adult user with tobacco flavor and satisfaction, without smoke or ash. As a result, IQOS emits on average 95% lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.⁴

Discover more about the heating technology behind IQOS heated tobacco devices.

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Important information: IQOS is not risk-free. It delivers nicotine, which is addictive.

¹Source: 3 month clinical studies conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each under real conditions (ambulatory).

²Source: PMI study conducted under ISO standards simulating real-world scenarios and based on threshold limits established by existing air quality guidelines.

³Source PMI Financials or estimates, IQOS user panels and PMI Market Research. Status as of October 2021. IQOS users who have completely quit cigarettes and for whom HeatSticks represent more than 70% of their past 7-day tobacco consumption.

⁴Average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette (3R4F). It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk.