E-Cigarettes: 8 Common Myths Fact-Checked

Plenty gets claimed about e-cigarettes, at the pub and online. Some of it is true, some outdated, some simply wrong. We take eight of the most common claims and say honestly what's behind them, without sugar-coating.

Myth 1: "Vapour is just water vapour"

Wrong. The aerosol from an e-cigarette is not pure water vapour. It comes from the liquid, that is propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and usually nicotine. Anyone who claims you only exhale water is oversimplifying.

Myth 2: "Vaping is just as harmful as smoking"

Not tenable in such sweeping terms. Health authorities in several countries classify e-cigarettes as less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, because combustion, and therefore tar, is eliminated. But: less harmful does not mean harmless, and long-term data is still limited. Equating the two is just as wrong as presenting vaping as safe.

Myth 3: "E-cigarettes are harmless"

Also wrong, just in the other direction. Is vaping harmful? It is not risk-free. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the aerosol contains substances you don't need in your lungs. The honest answer lies between the two extremes: an option for smokers, not a recreational product for non-smokers.

Myth 4: "Vape batteries are always exploding"

Overblown. Incidents almost always involved loose 18650 batteries in a trouser pocket, in contact with coins or keys. Modern devices with a built-in battery and USB-C charging are barely susceptible to this. With the right charger and a little care, the risk is low, more on this in the battery safety guide.

Myth 5: "More mg of nicotine is always better"

No. The right strength depends on how much you smoked before. Aim too high and you feel queasy, aim too low and you keep smoking on the side. For heavy smokers, 20 mg/ml of nicotine salt is common, for light smokers often less. The guidance is in the nicotine strengths guide.

Myth 6: "E-cigarettes aren't addictive"

Wrong, as soon as nicotine is involved. Nicotine is highly addictive, whether from the cigarette or the vape. Vaping nicotine-free is of course possible, but then the nicotine effect is missing too. Anyone who is dependent usually stays so at first when switching: the addictive substance doesn't change.

Myth 7: "Disposable vapes are the only easy solution"

That was once the case. In Switzerland, disposable vapes are facing a phase-out or ban, and refillable systems are hardly any more complicated today. Clicking in a pod or swapping a tank takes seconds, costs less per puff and produces less electronic waste.

Myth 8: "All e-cigarettes taste the same"

Far from it. Between tobacco, menthol, fruit, dessert and blends there are worlds of difference, and the same flavour tastes different depending on the device and coil. Which flavour families exist is set out in the overview of flavours and varieties.

In brief

• Vapour is not water vapour, and vaping is not risk-free.
• By the authorities' assessment it is less harmful than smoking, but not harmless, and intended only as an alternative for smokers.
• Nicotine is addictive, more mg is not better, but a matter of finding the right value.
• Modern devices are safer and more varied than the old myths suggest.

As of January 2026. Partly contains nicotine (up to 20 mg/ml), and nicotine is highly addictive. Sold only to those aged 18 and over. If you don't smoke, you shouldn't start vaping either. Not medical advice.