18 March 2011

Use of electronic cigarettes in establishments in Canberra?

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Since the recent banning of smoking outside businesses in Canberra I have noticed many a friend and acquaintance purchasing the electronic cigarette. Now I myself am a smoker but wonder if this is going too far.

These battery powered cigarettes use a vapour solution and can have nicotine or a non-nicotine solution within them. They usually look exactly like a cigarette with some glowing red or even blue at the tip.

I have seen these being used in clubs and pubs, my partner says his boss even uses his in the workplace. When noticed by staff the offender is asked to leave until they realise its electronic and are then allowed to stay and continue to ‘smoke’ inside.

What are your thoughts on this? I don’t know much about the possible, if any, health risks to others associated with these.

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bearlikesbeer11:51 am 21 Nov 11

The CT has reminded us that e-cigs are still illegal. I’m still not sure why the govt isn’t keen to study and classify them. The reasons seem pretty weak, considering patches, gum, etc are acceptable.

My concern, as an e-cig user, is they will never be made legal. How will the laws be changed? Are there groups representing the interests of quitters? Will govt be receptive to appeals for change from e-cig companies and quitters? I’m struggling to name an MP who smokes. 

I imagine cops aren’t fans of e-cigs. It would be a hassle having to check that a real cig isn’t an illegal e-cig, or dealing with idiots getting into punch ups after mistakenly thinking an e-cig user is smoking in a non-smoking area. And what about the nicotine-free versions? How do I prove to a cop that my e-cig is legal because it’s nicotine-free? Will they take it away for testing, or chuck it in the bin, or tell me to stop making life difficult for them?

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/authorities-stub-out-ecigs/2363710.aspx

I don’t care what the effects are, surely you look like more of a tosser smoking an “e-cigarette” than you do smoking a real one. Get over it and quit.

I say well done to those people that have adopted a cleaner way of getting their nicotine. As for the comments of puggy…. why would you call people who have adopted a non offensive way of smoking tossers, how arrogant, you need to get over yourself, they are doing the right thing so leave them alone and enjoy your fresh air.

After reading all this i am quite keen to try one. And if i can do it at work then 🙂

Pandy said :

I am reporting this to the authorties.

These must be banned.

And smokers turned to mulch.

Your obviously not a smoker either…Once your addicted it is hard to stop

Some people just dont have that will power like others, so dont be so judgemental!

Tooks said :

Almost sounds like they’re being marketed to kids. Or am I just being cynical?

Yes, yes you are 🙂

And to CG Nerd, this site:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/

is where I learnt everything about them before I first bought them. I’m happy to answer any questions too. And this site:

http://eastmall.net/

is my preferred store for buying them. The Joye 510 is generally considered the basic, beginner model, although it is a Mini-style, which is smaller than the Pen-style ones mentioned earlier, and therefore have a smaller battery and a smaller nicotine juice reservoir (“cartridge”) which requires more frequent refilling (and then you also have the Super Mini analog cigarette lookalikes, and the self-explanatory Cigar-style)

puggy said :

I should clarify that I don’t think it’s a bad idea to use them as a means to quit smoking. I guess just can’t understand the US ads for particular e-ciggies that I have seen that specifically highlight the smoke produced and the little red LED that lights up so it looks “just like a real cigarette”.

Almost sounds like they’re being marketed to kids. Or am I just being cynical?

‘My lung capacity is as good as a non-smoker’

Bull sh*t it is

I should clarify that I don’t think it’s a bad idea to use them as a means to quit smoking. I guess just can’t understand the US ads for particular e-ciggies that I have seen that specifically highlight the smoke produced and the little red LED that lights up so it looks “just like a real cigarette”.

I am reporting this to the authorties.

These must be banned.

And smokers turned to mulch.

Tetranitrate9:13 pm 18 Mar 11

I can’t believe these aren’t more widely available!
They’re an excellent substitute for cigarettes, even aside from being an aid to quit.
-people simply switching from cigarettes to vaporizers without ever quitting are still killing off the the worst of the health risks associated with smoking, along with eliminating second hand smoke as well.

puggy said :

I don’t care what the effects are, surely you look like more of a tosser smoking an “e-cigarette” than you do smoking a real one. Get over it and quit.

Never been a smoker?

I used to smoke a pack a day for years then I bought an electronic cigarette and haven’t bought a pack since. The reason why nicotine liquid is banned for sale in Australia(But not from importing personal use amounts) is that the Gov’t want’s you to pay 15$ a pack and really doesn’t care if they kill you.

Without my e-cig I would go right back to cigarettes.

Boston University did a study on them-
http://sph.bu.edu/index.php?option=com_insidernews&categoryid=94&sectionid=15&task=view&Itemid=617365&articleid=3366

The kind to get is not the type that looks like a cigarette but the “ego” pen style it makes more vapor and the batteries last alot longer.

20% of the population is addictied to the other chemicals/MAO inhibitors contained in tobacco smoke so they won’t work for everybody.

That being said after I got mine I quit smoking cigarettes without even trying and havent bought a pack in 7 months for me this is unbelivable as I was strungout like a research monkey on cigarettes. I can’t belive I stopped.

puggy said :

that they’re plain illegal in Australia.

I think the writer of that article has generalised. E-cigarette, the equipment itself, is not illegal for use or sale in Australia. What is illegal, however, is the sale of nicotine without a license. There is a loophole to this though. As long as the purchasing of the nicotine is done outside of Australia’s jurisdiction (e.g. China, US) then the shipment of these nicotine in to Australia for personal consumption is perfectly legal (for the time being).

Yes, I also vape in an attempt to kick my habit. My lung capacity is now as good as a non-smoker, but I have yet to kick the vaping habit. One thing I can say is that they are hell of a lot cheaper than analogues (normal cigarettes) and so I am suddenly finding a bit more disposable income.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd1:55 pm 18 Mar 11

these sound like a good idea for trying to quit. where do you get them?

I also thought that they couldn’t be purchased in Australia. In fact, this article says that they’re plain illegal in Australia.

I don’t care what the effects are, surely you look like more of a tosser smoking an “e-cigarette” than you do smoking a real one. Get over it and quit.

I’ve been using these for over a year now. I vape at my work desk every day (eg. right now :), and I’ve used it in theatres, pubs, clubs, on planes, in lifts…never had a complaint, more just the occasional double-take and strange look.

They won’t work for everyone, but I highly recommend giving them a try. I went from a pack-a-day to zero smokes less than a week after I first bought them

Based on the Wikipedia page, it seems that opinion is sharply divided. Doesn’t seem like there are any good studies available at this stage, but there doesn’t seem to be any major concern about passive effects at this point.

Apparently they can’t be sold in Australia (as nicotine is classed as a poison), but can be imported for personal use. Putting aside the concerns about potentially poor quality control, I get the impression that these things are basically nicotine patches that you suck on.

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