An excellent radio program from earlier this year called ‘Inside Health’ discussing the implications of electronic cigarettes. For once, this discussion is actually very fair. Just so you know, the ecigarette discussion ends at about the 20 minute mark.

BBC Radio 4 Electronic Cigarette Broadcast

So what do you think? What are your views about ecigarettes, whether positive or negative? Let us know.

As the world strives to become a safer, eco-friendly place to live in, many nations are taking big steps to promote a healthier public environment. Just take a look at all of the places where smoking has been outlawed in public places and think to yourself: If smoking isn’t that bad for you, would all these countries be taking the same action?

Smoking tobacco is harmful, even as second-hand smoke. Here is a list of all of the places that have enacted bans or restrictions regarding cigarette smoking in public places:

Albania

On May 26, 2007, the country passed a law that banned smoking in closed public areas and also outlawed tobacco advertising.

Andorra

Smoking is banned in government buildings, public buses, and educational facilities.

Argentina

Buenos Aires banned smoking in 2006 in public areas, with some restrictions worth pointing out. Smoking is sectioned off in some cities, where the bar or restaurant owners have to make separate smoking areas.

Armenia

A March 2005 law banned smoking in hospitals, educational, cultural and mental institutions. It also banned smoking on public transportation. This ban was later updated to require public and private institutions to section off areas where people can smoke out of the harmful way of others.

Australia

There are many State-to-State rules, but in short, there has been an overwhelming movement to get rid of smoking in public areas.

Austria

Austria has updated it’s policy to basically state that any establishment over 80 m2 has to have sectional smoking.

Bahrain

Bahrain outlawed smoking in public places on 27 February 2008.

Belgium

Current ban is in effect in any area where food is served.

Bermuda

Workplaces, bars, restaurants, and clubs all outlawed smoking.

Bhutan

After a lengthy struggle since 2005, many policies have been installed, only to eventually be repealed. There have been prison terms for people SELLING tobacco in Bhutan, so you can see this is a very serious issue.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Smoking is banned in public buildings dating back to 2007.

Brazil

Sectional smoking as well as bans in public places.

Bulgaria

Banned in all indoor establishments except bars and restaurants.

Canada

Smoking is banned in all territories and provinces at last time of reviewing Canada’s smoking rules.

Chile

Sectional smoking in most circumstances.

China

Smoking is banned about everywhere in China except restaurants.

Colombia

Indoor work environments and public places are smoke free, and Colombia is very strict in it’s rules towards advertising to minors.

Croatia

There are some strict rules in Croatia, but the main idea is that establishments that meet strict criteria have to use ventilation systems in order to control their environment.

Cuba

Most work places in Cuba have outlawed smoking, and there are very strict rules on where tobacco can even be sold.

Cyprus

Banned everywhere.

Czech Republic

Regulated smoking, very complicated to report.

Denmark

Sectional smoking with some parameters.

Ecuador

Ecuador is a big smoking nation, and while there are signs in certain areas where smoking is allowed, it’s routinely ignored from all reports.

Estonia

Sectional Smoking.

Faroe Islands

Banned.

Finland

Last report says Finland plans on outlawing smoking entirely.

France

Sectional smoking with some rules.

Germany

Rules are in place, but according to reports, not really enforced.

Greece

Update coming soon.

Guatemala

Banned in public establishments.

Hong Kong

Very complex rules, fines, and regulations, but bottom line, smoking is closely governed.

Hungary

Smoking has been banned for several years in public establishments.

Iceland

Banned.

India

In India, you can basically smoke inside your own home or car to be safe. Anything else has rules.

Indonesia

Banned with a few parameters.

Ireland

Banned.

Isle of Man

Banned. Even in prison.

Israel

Sectional smoking and strict bans.

Italy

Italy was one of the first nations to adopt no-smoking policies, and has rules based on sectional smoking.

Japan

Rules vary, but for the most part, it’s difficult to smoke anywhere in public.

Kazakhstan

Full smoking ban.

Kenya

Banned.

Latvia

Banned.

Lithuania

Banned, except for in specialized smoking bars.

Luxembourg

Banned except for in “snack bars.”

Macedonia

Banned unless you are in your own home.

Madagascar

Banned in airports, clubs, and bars.

Malta

Sectional smoking.

Malaysia

Banned.

Mexico

Banned.

Monaco

Banned, but you can smoke in bars, nightclubs, or other late night spots.

Montenegro

Banned.

Morocco

Banned.

Mozambique

Banned, with some sectional smoking.

Namibia

Banned.

Netherlands

Banned, with some loose interpretations.

New Zealand

Banned.

Niger

Banned.

Nigeria

Banned.

Northern Ireland

Banned with big fines for people who violate the rules.

Norway

Banned.

Paraguay

Banned.

Philippines

For the most part, banned.

Poland

Small bars can sometimes be allowed, but other than that, its’ banned.

Portugal

Banned, with some restrictions in regards to people who use ventilation.

Russia

Unkown.

Scotland

Various rules make smoking illegal in restaurants and public places, with restrictions.

Slovenia

Banned with some parameters for people that do want to allow smoking.

South Africa

Unknown.

Spain

Banned.

Sweden

Sectional Smoking

Switzerland

Banned with State to State variations.,

Thailand

Banned.

Turkey

Banned.

Uganda

Banned.

United Arab Emirates

Banned.

United Kingdom

Banned.

United States

State-by-State rules differ, but anyone in the USA can attest that smoking is generally outlawed in public places.

Uruguay

Sectional smoking.

Vatican City

Banned.

Vietnam

Banned everywhere imaginable.

Wales

Smoking is banned across public premises.

Zambia

Smoking is prohibited in public places and is enforced with a huge fine and a possible two year prison term.

 

Two studies were released on e-cigarettes earlier this week measuring their popularity and effectiveness. The studies came as e-cigarette fans and e-cigarette companies celebrated a recent victory in the appellate courts which prevented the FDA from banning the popular products. The studies show a growing trend of e-cigarette users in the country and survey e-cigarette users to determine its effectiveness and popularity.

One study from John Ayers, a public health doctoral candidate from John Hopkins, used the readily accessible keyword trending tool known as Google Insight to see how popular e-cigarettes were on search engines, and how they compared to similar devices. E-cigarettes and related terms have had a huge influx of searches from 2008 to 2010 and rank #1 in smoking cessation item related terms.

The other study from Boston University public health professor Michael Siegel surveyed 5,000 e-cigarette smokers to see what their experience was like six months after receiving their electronic cigarettes. Their results were 49% of people said they had quit smoking for an unspecified amount of time and 31% said they were not smoking at all after six months. The study concluded by stating, “if proven safe, e-cigarettes may be a potentially important tool for harm reduction……and worthy of further investigation”.

These types of studies are backed up by the experiences shared by e-cigarette smokers around the country who think this product is a better alternative than traditional cigarettes.

A recent episode of the popular television series “THE DOCTORS” named the Top 10 Health Trends of 2009, including the revolutionary and still relatively unknown smoking alternative device – the Electronic Cigarette. This is pretty big news and a positive sign for people who ‘vape’ all across the U.S., as mainstream exposure can only help further the success and acceptance of these products.

The doctors on the panel stated that for the millions of people addicted to smoking, there may be some hope in a safer alternative. The ecigarette is a high-tech device that gives the sensation and impression of smoking, but does not emit the 4,000+ chemicals that combustion tobacco products produce.

The only chemical that enters the user’s system is nicotine, and the “smoke” produced that can be breathed in and out is actually water vapor.

“For some people, this may be a big help to get them to quit smoking,” Dr. Ordon says. “We don’t want to get people on nicotine; that’s not good, either [because it] constricts your blood vessels, but it’s a lot better than consuming all that tar and charcoal and carbon monoxide [that is in cigarettes].”

Dr. Ordon fails to mention, however, that cartridges are also available without nicotine if that’s what the customer prefers. And indeed, many users are also able to enjoy lower-density nicotine cartridges with the eventual goal of quitting the habit altogether.

Moreover, the doctors on the show seem to believe that e-cigs are only available in the UK and China, while in truth there are a number of U.S.-based companies offering a variety of products. Electronic cigarettes are not and have never been illegal, so it is unclear why many people seem to think they can’t get them stateside – most likely a result of FDA and Big Tobacco propaganda.

On the topic of the FDA, it is also mentioned on the show that electronic cigarettes haven’t yet been approved. While this is true, regular combustion cigarettes have never been and will never be FDA approved, either, so it’s something of a moot point. On top of that, all of the individual ingredients of e-cigs are FDA approved, the agency just hasn’t put the time and money into clinically testing the kits as a whole.

There are a couple of other misstatements and misleading information the doctors state within the show – such as starter kits will cost you $150 (much cheaper versions are widely available) – but all four of the hosts did try the e-cigs themselves and spoke with a smoker who also gave a positive review of the product.

It would have been nice if The Doctors more faithfully did their homework before airing incorrect information, but the exposure was a good start and a small step in the right direction toward the mainstream embrace of this excellent smoking alternative.

Ecigs On Today Show