FEATURE
VAPE … THE FINAL FRONTIER ?
Did sci-fi movies predict the rise of vaping , or did they completely overlook the idea of a reduced risk alternative ?
Words : Jordan Millar
Science fiction has a long history of predicting future innovations , but amongst the flying cars and cybernetics , did anyone dream up a less harmful alternative to smoking ? Despite taking place in the distant future , genre-defining scifi movies such as Alien and Blade Runner 2049 seem to have completely overlooked the idea of harm reduction . Instead , they have characters travelling the stars in galaxyhopping ships and wielding otherworldly laser guns , all while smoking traditional cigarettes . While a handful of movies did show characters trying to kick the habit , their quitting tactics were nothing compared to the reduced risk products available today . Cult classic , The Fifth Element , tried its hand at smoking cessation by having protagonist Korben Dallas limited to four cigarettes a day through his in-apartment vending machine . However , Dallas might have seen more success on his quitting journey if he was equipped with a good-quality mod or disposable instead . Although there have been some e-cigarette style devices featured in science fiction media , they were nowhere near as complex , or effective , as the vaping products on offer to smokers today . One of the earliest examples comes from the short story One Face , which included a ‘ tabac stick ’ device that allowed people to inhale the ‘ funny tranquilizer ’ from tobacco , without running the risk of lung cancer . Vaping is now slowly making its way into pop culture , with onscreen characters taking back control of their health and opting for a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes . The question is , will there come a time when smoking is completely phased out from sci-fi movies ?
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