I PREDICT A Vape-Riot

Introducing the OAP’s who are causing a TikTok riot in the name of vaping advocacy and harm reduction.

Words: Grace Lynk

Dubbing themselves the ‘Anti-Smoking Squad’, Vape Riot consists of a small group of golden agers who have set out on a mission to prove quitting cigarettes is possible at any age.

The regularly updated TikTok page is teeming with energy and colour, with the team of seniors all claiming to have a new zest for life since they quit smoking.

At the forefront of this social media campaign is Ruth Riot, the face and idea-woman in front of the camera with a goal to help others quit using alternative techniques.

She said: “I used to be a smoker but have recently stopped. I’m now feeling healthier than before and have since been enjoying a new lease of life to the max.”

Besides using their words to start a raucous, the OAP’s have taken to patrolling the streets and approaching strangers with cigarettes with an inspiring proposition.

At current, two lucky individuals have been offered the opportunity to tick something huge off their bucket list, all expenses paid, on the condition that they quit smoking.

The generous agreement saw one young man complete a lifelong dream of bungee jumping and another woman on a free trip to Paris with the Vape Riot crew.

If playing fairy godmother wasn’t enough, the seniors behind the camera are also promoting their diss track against smoking, recorded and performed in a studio.

The caption of the anti-smoking song is labelled; ‘They’ve escaped the care home to lay down the hottest bars of 2023’, a reminder that life can still be full of adventure in old age.

Although their goodwill and rapping are both incredibly entertaining, the flamboyant displays of enormous cigarettes being crushed, beaten and paraded in a hearse are what remain the most captivating.

The grandeur performances have demonstrated a tank crushing a car of tobacco, seen a reenacted fight between a full-scale vape and cigarette, and even a full funeral procession.

Ruth Riot said: “Cigarette smoking is in fast decline, and with so many ways to quit, it’s the end of the line for tobacco. Personally, I think this is cause for celebration.”

Perhaps deemed an eccentric ‘celebration’ by most, the Vape Riot crew rented a hearse to rejoice the death of cigarettes with a full funeral procession through the streets of London.

After loading the vehicle with enlarged cigarettes in place of a coffin, the crew drove past Globe House, the building of British American Tobacco’s headquarters.

Ruth, as the primary spokesperson for the account, said: “We had a lot of fun making some noise before they chased us off! Join the RIOT squad and let’s end smoking for good.”

CIGARETTE SMOKING IS IN FAST DECLINE, AND WITH SO MANY WAYS TO QUIT, IT’S THE END OF THE LINE FOR TOBACCO. PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

“I’ve smoked for 11 years and this is the only thing that’s made me think of stopping.”

“Ngl this worked better than any other anti-smoking ad I’ve seen.”

“Go off, granny! Love it, haha”

“This video is the only reason I quit”

“This is a fantastic piece of media”