Trying Out The IQOS

iQOS white body kit

PLAYBOY - After the Philippine government imposed a smoking ban on all public places on July 23, 2017 – with the exception of designated smoking areas – a lot of smokers decided to kick the habit, but there are still millions of Filipinos, to this day, who continue to smoke cigarettes. Quitting isn’t as easy as simply dropping the habit as nicotine has a stranglehold on the minds and actions of smokers, compelling them to incessantly crave for a smoke.

Philip Morris International (PMI), manufacturer of Marlboro, invested billions of dollars to create a safer product in response to the health issues posed by smoking and the projected drop in sales of cigarettes. The IQOS – “I Quit Ordinary Smoking” – was launched in 2014 in Japan and Italy, and has since exploded in popularity in Japan, to the extent that exclusive IQOS lounges were built in many buildings on top of the designated smoking areas.

Unlike conventional cigarettes, IQOS does not burn its heat sticks as burning releases a plethora of carcinogens. Rather, the electronic device heats the shortened cigarette to the point that it emits a nicotine vapor sans the toxins.

According to PMI, it has conducted trials that prove the safety of using the IQOS, especially when compared to conventional cigarettes. The US FDA has stated that findings on heated tobacco do not back up the claims of PMI. However, the agency did recognize the device’s ability to reduce one’s exposure to harmful chemicals in relation to smoking.


Trying out the IQOS  

We tried using the IQOS and the experience was a mix between smoking and vaping. Trying the Regular variant, we discovered that the heat sticks do not taste anything like regular cigarettes – its flavor somewhat resembles that of corn tea or genmaicha – and there was no throat hit. The device automatically shuts off after six minutes, expecting the user to have gotten in around 14 puffs in that duration. After which, the stick is to be disposed of.

The IQOS holder comes with a charger, which affords the user approximately 20 uses before it needs to be recharged, and small cleaning tools to rid the device of residue.

According to reports, cleaning the device regularly is critical if one is to keep away from toxic substances. Charring through pyrolysis occurs if there is debris in the device upon use, potentially releasing carcinogens from the stick.


Too pricey?

For the IQOS to be considered a viable alternative to smoking in the Philippines, its price should not stray far from the rates of cigarettes. Currently, with the device yet to be launched in the country, the IQOS device is priced at over P6,000 and a ream of HeatSticks is at around P3,000. The price, alone, could turn off those who plan to find a healthier alternative to smoking unless they’re after the novelty of using the rather trendy gadget.

Though not as laborious as vaping, using IQOS involves regular cleaning, which can be off-putting for some people. The lack of a throat hit might also lead to people go back to lighting up conventional cigarettes, since the IQOS fails to fully simulate the smoking experience.

However, the tea-like flavor does give the impression that you’re consuming a healthier product, albeit the findings on the IQOS’ safety are inconclusive, and the smoke emitted doesn’t produce a strong odor and contains far fewer toxins.

The IQOS is a worthwhile product and is potentially a safer alternative to smoking, but its price is beyond the reach of many and it is not widely available enough to influence smokers to make a change. (Playboy Philippines)