MORE DON’T MISS

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‘vape lounge’ businesses are smoking hot on staten island (with photos and video)

Smoke break: what tobacco-free drug stores mean for e-cigarettes

The devices, first manufactured in China, were initially criticized by anti smoking groups as an ineffective way to quit, because, while they satisfied the nicotine craving, they did nothing to deal with the behavioral dimension.

They have yet to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), except when used for therapeutic purposes.

“The FDA intends to propose a regulation that would extend the agency’s ‘tobacco product’ authorities which currently only apply to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll your own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco to other categories of tobacco products that meet the statutory definition of ‘tobacco product,'” said Jenny Haliski, an FDA spokeswoman.

“Further research is needed to assess the potential public health benefits and risks of electronic cigarettes and other novel tobacco products,” she added.

BUSINESS IS EXPLODING

But while the FDA continues to study the products, business is booming.

“We (the e cigarette business) should be over the $3 billion mark by the end of the year with 10 million users,” said Thomas R. Kiklas, co founder of Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association.

He noted that the e cig business grossed $1.6 billion dollars in sales and attracted 5 million users in 2013. By the end of this year, it’s estimated that there will be 10 million users in a $3 billion dollar industry, said Kiklas.

Manufacturers are careful to market them as a cheaper and healthier alternative to tobacco, not as a smoking cessation method.

Electronic cigarette starter kits priced from $15 with an average cost of $2 per day for refills beats the average $12 price for one pack of real cigarettes.

Since a few fledgling upstarts launched e cigarette products in 2007, the business has exploded with over 250 brands of electronic cigarettes.

Even the leading tobacco companies are getting in on the action. The popular Blu e cigarettes are manufactured by Lorillard, while Camel maker Reynolds is marketing Vuse.

Some major cigarette companies, like Philip Morris International and Altria, which are the makers of Marlboro, have joined forces to produce e cigs.

‘VAPING’ GATHERS STEAM

Staten Island got its first whiff of electronic cigarettes five years ago when a kiosk opened in the Staten Island Mall.

The idea spawned a new craze of what is now called vaping.

In the last two months alone, two “vape lounges” and several electronic cigarette shops have opened in the borough proving this business is “smoking.”

“You see a lot of vape shops opening up because people, especially those who want to quit smoking, can go there to learn about it,” said Reh Hassan, co owner of the West Brighton based Happy Elephant, a vaping store and lounge that opened about two months ago.

“About 80 percent of our clients are smokers who want to quit,” he added.

Unlike the over the counter e cigs most commonly found in delis, which include rechargeable cigarette like devices that take flavored carriages infused with different levels of tobacco, Happy Elephant sells pen like devices that can be filled with flavored liquid.

NEW LOCATIONS FLAVORS

In a prime location on Forest Avenue amid a strip of popular bars and restaurants, Happy Elephant attracts a wide age range of patrons, who can sit on comfortable sofas, relax, plug into Wi Fi or enjoy some music on a Friday or Saturday night.

“We are just following a trend. People are really interested and we’re just trying to accommodate. It’s healthier than smoking a cigarette,” said Cesar Ancheta, manager of Happy Elephant.

He said the vape “juices” not only contain varied levels of nicotine, but the amount of PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerin) can also vary in one concoction. With flavors like watermelon, strawberry dessert and Turkish coffee, many passersby try vaping out of curiosity.

“We have our own mixologist who mixes our line of juices we have house and organic blends. also carry three other lines of premium juices. encourage the least amount of nicotine,” said Ancheta.

Opened three weeks ago, J&A Vape in Grant City offers a selection of e cigarettes and vaping pen like devices that patrons purchase and smoke in its lounge.

“We have couches to hang out. Here, people can smoke their stuff. … People tell their friends and more and more people keep coming,” said Jesse Catrama, co owner of J&A Vape, noting the business has promise to show big profits.

Patrons of vape lounges range from local residents, who just want to try vaping, to heavy smokers trying to quit.

“There are people who never smoked before who come in to try the vape. There are people who started with the Hookah fad, and now got into electronic cigarettes,” said Ancheta.

Said Robin Volpe, a former Islander who never smoked conventional cigarettes and came from Old Bridge, N.J., to Happy Elephant “This is the closest place to where we live that has this. I like being able to come in and try the different flavors.”