HIGHLIGHTS: Four Alternatives to Smoking at Gigs and Festivals

Summer is finally here and it’s time to get out to enjoy some gigs and festivals. You might pick up on a couple of big ones around the world such as Hella Mega Tour, which was in the UK earlier this summer, or Animal Collective as they are currently promoting their new album Time Skiffs.

Enjoying music at gigs is a great way to cut loose, have fun dancing, and socialise with others. But there are some things you can’t do at gigs anymore, like smoke, and for good reason.

Smoking is not only damaging to your health, but it also affects other people’s enjoyment as smoking can be very annoying for non-smokers, plus it’s getting ridiculously expensive.

iNews reported on the increase in taxes on tobacco products, thus a rise in the price per pack of 20 cigarettes: 88p will be added to the most expensive cigarettes and 63p will be added to the cheapest cigarettes. So, if you think about the health issues that come with smoking and also the rising costs of cigarettes, maybe now is the right time to look for an alternative as festival season is upon us?

If you’ve ever felt like lighting up at gig, but thought twice about it – here are four alternatives to smoking at gigs.

1. Gum

A convenient alternative to smoking at a gig is to chew nicotine gum. The gum releases doses of nicotine as it is being chewed, thus satisfying your nicotine cravings. Lots of people chose gum because it is an easy way to get a nicotine fix while at a festival, plus it gives the mouth something to do, hence satisfying an oral fixation that’s associated with smoking. On the downside, nicotine gum can be a hassle to get rid of once you’re done with it as it can get messy – especially when bins aren’t always accessible at music festivals.

2. Patches

Nicotine patches are another easy to use alternative to smoking at gigs. Users simply put the patch on their skin, usually the upper chest, upper arm, shoulder or back, and it sticks like an adhesive bandage. Once it’s in place, it begins to release small amounts of nicotine that is absorbed through the skin. The difficult part with using nicotine patches is they are pretty obvious because they aren’t easy to hide from the people around you. The patches can be seen if you wear a vest or sleeveless shirt to a music festival, therefore they could induce the negative stigmas associated with being a smoker.

3. Pouches

Nicotine pouches are a newer alternative to smoking in public. They work similar to gum as they are little sacks that are placed in the mouth under the upper lip and once in place begin to deliver nicotine to the users. However, they are more discreet than chewing gum or using patches because they aren’t obvious to other people when they are being used. Nicotine pouches are growing in popularity, especially at music festivals, because they come in several flavours, and varieties as well as being available in small packs like the flavoured mix packs on Prilla. Some of the flavours include wintergreen, cinnamon, and citrus, among others. So instead of smoking, you could enjoy a flavoured nicotine pouch at your next gig or festival.

4. Lozenges

Nicotine lozenges look like little candies and are used like nicotine pouches. The lozenges are put between the gums and cheek and begin to release nicotine into the mouth. They are small so they easily fit in your pocket and can be brought to any gig to provide you with a nicotine hit while watching a gig. The adverse reactions, according to Medicines.org, with using lozenges are they have been known to cause dry mouth and nausea. If you use these while at gigs, be cautious of the possible side effects mentioned and make sure you’re well hydrated.

Smoking at a music festival may not always be feasible, especially with all the bans and negative stigma. Pack some of these alternatives with you should you crave a nicotine hit so that you can enjoy your festival experience and nicotine buzz while respecting the law and other people at the same time.