Another newspaper warning

[TropicalBob]

Warning over fake cigarettes Telford Journal

This quote from the article is, unfortunately, irrefutable and the essence of our problem.

Linda Offord, programme manager for tobacco control at Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust said: “There is not enough evidence that they are safe to use. The safety and efficacy of ‘e-cigarettes’ is unknown and they have yet to undergo the rigorous testing to which other nicotine products are subjected.

“If the people who market electronic cigarettes want to help smokers quit, then they need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analyses and operate within the proper regulatory framework.

 

[Chevron07]

It still comes down to marketing. Right now, they are undergoing the same rigorous testing as the most popular nicotine product...cigarettes.

It's the "safer alternative" thing that every article seems to point out as the reason studies need to be done. Too bad all of the manufacturers and retailers couldn't agree to drop "safer" and let the product speak for it's self.

edit: I just read the whole artical. Nothing wrong with forcing warnings and not selling to under 18. Those are pretty much "duh" things to begin with.

 

[markab]

Hi TB,
You hit the nail on the head. Anyone who has taken an introduction course to business would realize that a product like this is going to need government approval. Electronic cigarette manufacturers dropped the ball and let us all down by not going through the proper channels before going to market. They opted to go for the quick buck instead. We may very well see the e-cig market rapidly dry up do to this poor decision.

Mark

Warning over fake cigarettes Telford Journal

This quote from the article is, unfortunately, irrefutable and the essence of our problem.

 

[Lorddrek]

But UK Trading Standards Officers are concerned children could buy the fakes and suffer exposure to damaging levels of nicotine.

If inhaled and not ingested is there a damaging level of nicotine? I used some 36mg and quickly got a headache. Now I use 24mg and I have to puff much more before this happens. And do children have an increased risk with E-Juice than say a nine year old smoking moms Pall Malls?

Officers are advising the Government to ban sales to under 18s and force a ‘hazardous’ label on them, in line with current regulations for real cigarettes.

Of course this needs to and should have already happened. But a ban will do nothing to stop this. Anyone can order items from China. Good luck keeping them out of teenagers hands then.

Linda Offord, programme manager for tobacco control at Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust said: “There is not enough evidence that they are safe to use. The safety and efficacy of ‘e-cigarettes’ is unknown and they have yet to undergo the rigorous testing to which other nicotine products are subjected.

There is no evidence that they are unsafe either. All available testing and info at present would indicate they are much less unsafe than other currently marketed tobacco products. The fact that E-Cigs mimic actual cigarettes make them a serious theat to anti-smoking campaigns.

The device is already banned in Australia.

So this means what exactly? Other countries should follow suit? Anti-smokers, Big Tobacco, and Big Pharma sure hope so!

Lorddrek

 

[Angela]

Sorry, am I the only one who sees the things mentioned in this article as sensible and good news for the UK in general terms?

They aren't saying 'Get rid of them forever', they are saying 'Label them' and 'Test them', and only sell to over 18s. None of this seems OTT or unreasonable to me.

OK, short term, this could mean that there are shortages, but already some suppliers are doing the necessary testing and labelling (TW). The next step has got to be the testing the devices themselves.

OK, so most people are fairly convinced that they are safer than analogues, but wouldn't it be nice to have the formal stamp of approval to confirm that they are?

 

[tinear]

"...and they have yet to undergo the rigorous testing to which other nicotine products are subjected."

still waiting on full disclosure from Big Tobacco. "not addictive" and "doesn't cause cancer" were their sworn testimonial mantras for how many years?

 

[TropicalBob]

They are speaking of NRT products, not tobacco.

Angela, very nice post. You are not alone in seeing what needs to be and must be done.

 

[jamie]

“We support any efforts by Trading Standards to ensure these products are properly regulated and do not encourage smokers to continue the smoking habit.”

Just like Hasan in that other article fretting about he can't approve because ecigs don't break "hand-to-mouth behavior" or that guy with his "step down program" - they have completely lost site of what is their business and what is not their business. It's simply not their business if I want to continue "the smoking habit" or "hand-to-mouth behavior".

I know that the rehab industry has its own problems but it's by leaps and bounds more professional, less corrupt, and less... perverted by moralists... than the tobacco "cessation" industry.

 

[Xtian]

Well isn't that what we are here for?

Are we not the test subjects to this product?

We are not well aware of the long term effects yet, they haven't been around long enough, but I can't imagine a study being done that proves these things are dangerous, and then all of us throwing them away going back to analogs.

We are aware that these things might not be safe, but we are pretty sure they are safer than cigarettes. For the most part, Cigarettes minus the smell and second hand smoke, and we already live in a better world.

If I am killing myself, at least I'm not putting others in harms way, and I don't have to smell bad either.

It would be nice to get some money for "testing" these heheh.
I have no problem being the lab rat of the e-cig.