Sophie Carty thinks that allowing the use of e-cigarettes in areas where smoking is prohibited may encourage smoking. However in contrast, Public Health England (PHE) seems to think otherwise.

Vapers should not be forced to use their e-cigs in smoking areas

Following the study indicating that vaping is approximately 95% safer than smoking published in 2015, the PHE had issued guidelines in order to ensure that smokers who are transitioning from smoking to vaping, feel supported and encouraged to quit the deadly habit.

 

The PHE had insisted on the importance of setting up a special sections for vapers, as forcing them to use their vaporizers in smoking areas sends the wrong message, and “undermines their effort to quit”.

 

But Carty said that by banning vaping in smoke-free areas, authorities would be protecting the public from “smoking behavior”. She added that since e-cigarettes are effective smoking cessation tools, they should be promoted as such and that people should be discouraged from switching from smoking “to vaping forever”.

ACS changed its position on e-cigs

In the meantime, last February the American Cancer Society (ACS) released a statement indicating a change in attitude towards electronic cigarettes. The organization said it also finally recognizes the research in favour of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation, and recommends that physicians support smokers who choose the devices as their preferred cessation aids.

In a position statement released on it’s website, the ACS rightly pointed out that while smoking is responsible for the deaths of millions, current research keeps indicating that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes. The organization added that although it primarily recommends FDA-approved cessation aids, it recognizes that some smokers are not interested in trying these products to quit. Hence, these smokers should be redirected to switching to the safer alternatives.

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