First of 8,000 lawsuits against Big Smoke for addicting consumers to a deadly product

[dc2k08]

Tobacco trial: Philip Morris disputes addiction claims - Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com

[robw]

This is something any nicotine product could face.
What happens if some one uses to many nicorette gum and dies from nicotine overdose.

For that matter what happens if Starbucks lets someone drink to much caffeine and they have a heart attack.

What happens if someone drinks 3 bottle of whiskey and dies from alcohol poisoning.

You accept the risk when you are an adult and consent to using a product that has dangerous chemicals

[Bertrand]

We will have nobody to sue if e-liquid turns out to be deadly. Not a big deal for me, but might be for US citizens.. hehehe

[Kate]

You accept the risk when the risks are made clear but some companies pretend their products are not dangerous. That's what tobacco companies used to say.

Esmoking sellers will have to answer to claims for selling a toxic, addictive chemical to us without clear warnings and proper packaging if they are not more careful.

[dc2k08]

Esmoking sellers will have to answer to claims for selling a toxic, addictive chemical to us without clear warnings and proper packaging if they are not more careful.

That's for sure, especially in sue-happy state-side.

[Kate]

Just imagine a few years from now after we have been sold esmoking as a safer alternative to smoking. It delivers higher doses of nicotine, proving more addictive and harder to stop than smoking. Some people develop lung disease due to inhaling flavourings and others are found to have cancer linked to propylene oxide contamination. Circulatory problems become more common due to the vaso constrictive properties of nicotine.

The crime is not selling us the esmoking gear, it's selling us a 'healthier' concept. People who buy that idea will be very angry if things go belly up.

[dc2k08]

you spelled it all out there clearly Kate. couldn't say it any better. it would be wise of suppliers to take notice.

[Bertrand]

The crime is not selling us the esmoking gear, it's selling us a 'healthier' concept. People who buy that idea will be very angry if things go belly up.

I bought into that. I'm not too sure any more, and if it does turn out to be dangerous, I will be more annoyed at the lack of research and regulation. Usually for these sorts of things each batch should get tested by the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the pharmaceutical company that uses it. Here, it's not clear that it's comprehensively tested by anyone.

But to say that e-cigarette sellers will have to face up, etc. is nonsense. Their assets wouldn't even cover one negligence case let alone a class action: they are nothing like tobacco companies. Nobody smokes one e-liquid brand exclusively, so if it's poisonous because of contamination, it will be impossible to prove the source of the contamination years down the track. And at least for quite a few years the cancers or whatever we get will be put down to a history of smoking.

[dc2k08]

true story, they would also get into a dispute as to how to quantify "healthier" or "safer".

[Kate]

They don't have the resources of tobacco companies to defend themselves if there are lawsuits. Financially they stand to lose the shirts off their backs and their livelihoods. Socially they will have more problems, justifying making a profit from selling toxins will be one of them.

North Americans tend to focus on financial punishments but I believe there are worse things, stigma being one.