E-cigarettes don't violate smoking ban
By Dalson Chen, The Windsor StarMarch 12, 2009 8:01 PMComments (13)
E-cigarettes don't violate smoking ban
Boom Boom Room manager Renaldo Agostino says that new electronic cigarettes could have a major impact on the local bar and casino industry. Bartender Jen Carey tries out one of the battery operated cigarettes at the club on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Boom Boom Room manager Renaldo Agostino says that new electronic cigarettes could have a major impact on the local bar and casino industry. Bartender Jen Carey tries out one of the battery operated cigarettes at the club on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Photograph by: Scott Webster, The Windsor Star
Smoker Jen Carey takes a deep drag on a cigarette and exhales a satisfying plume.
Thats really cool, she says with a grin.
Although the 23-year-old nightclub employee is indoors at her place of work, she isnt doing anything illegal. Shes puffing an e-cigarette -- an electronic, tobacco-free device that purportedly delivers a nicotine fix with none of the carcinogenic hazards.
Careys boss, Renaldo Agostino of the Boom Boom Room on Ouellette Avenue, believes the high-tech cigs could have a major impact on Windsors bar and gaming industries. He already has plans to market the product to his customers.
Could you imagine something that allows people to smoke inside the nightclub, inside the casino? said Agostino, 33. That was my initial thought.
Manufactured in China, e-cigs consist of a battery-powered cylinder and a replaceable filter tip containing a cartridge of liquid nicotine.
The white cylinder has a microchip-activated atomizer. After inhaling on the device, users exhale a harmless, odorless vapour mimicking cigarette smoke.
The device is so similar in shape, size and function to a real cigarette that when Carey tested it, she couldnt help flicking its tip of non-existent ash.
Its like theres actual smoke coming into my mouth, Carey said. I dont know whether its a psychological thing, but Im tasting it.
According to Carey, the only noticeable difference of the e-cigarette is its weight.
Agostino said a fellow bar manager turned him on to the products. They retail for about $200 each and come with replacement tips and a charger for the cylinder.
Agostino said each tip lasts the equivalent number of puffs as a pack of cigarettes. The tips are available in a variety of flavours and nicotine strengths. As well, buyers can choose the colour that glows at the end of the cigarette Agostino picked blue.
This thing doesnt produce any smoke. Its got nothing bad in it, Agostino said. Is this the end solution? No, but I bet you its pretty close.
However, Neil MacKenzie, manager of the tobacco program at the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, is less enthusiastic about the devices. Its certainly something we dont support from a health promotion perspective, he said.
MacKenzie said Agostino is correct in assuming e-cigarettes dont fall under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, since they contain no tobacco, and are therefore legal for public indoor use.
But MacKenzie said the devices are counter-productive for those looking to quit cigarettes because they still deliver the addictive substance while reinforcing the physical action of smoking. It doesnt really deal with the habit part of the equation.
As well, MacKenzie said, e-cigarettes could make it harder for the health unit to enforce Ontarios smoking laws. Without going right up to the individual, especially if there are many people using these things, it would be pretty difficult to differentiate.
MacKenzie also noted that the devices arent exactly new. A group of entrepreneurs in Leamington had plans to sell them locally in 2007. Quite frankly, Im not sure its going to be the craze that some might want to believe its going to be, MacKenzie said.
Health Canada also has concerns about the devices. Spokesman Philippe Laroche said Health Canada recently determined that e-cigarettes fall under the federal Food and Drugs Act.
A company wishing to market the products anywhere in Canada would have to submit evidence demonstrating their safety, effectiveness and quality.
To date, Health Canada has not approved the sale of any e-cigarette product, Laroche stated.
None of that deters Agostino. He said hes considering setting up a kiosk at his club sometime next week where patrons can sample an e-cigarette once were 100 per cent sure that the product is safe for our customers.
By Dalson Chen, The Windsor StarMarch 12, 2009 8:01 PMComments (13)
E-cigarettes don't violate smoking ban
Boom Boom Room manager Renaldo Agostino says that new electronic cigarettes could have a major impact on the local bar and casino industry. Bartender Jen Carey tries out one of the battery operated cigarettes at the club on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Boom Boom Room manager Renaldo Agostino says that new electronic cigarettes could have a major impact on the local bar and casino industry. Bartender Jen Carey tries out one of the battery operated cigarettes at the club on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Photograph by: Scott Webster, The Windsor Star
Smoker Jen Carey takes a deep drag on a cigarette and exhales a satisfying plume.
Thats really cool, she says with a grin.
Although the 23-year-old nightclub employee is indoors at her place of work, she isnt doing anything illegal. Shes puffing an e-cigarette -- an electronic, tobacco-free device that purportedly delivers a nicotine fix with none of the carcinogenic hazards.
Careys boss, Renaldo Agostino of the Boom Boom Room on Ouellette Avenue, believes the high-tech cigs could have a major impact on Windsors bar and gaming industries. He already has plans to market the product to his customers.
Could you imagine something that allows people to smoke inside the nightclub, inside the casino? said Agostino, 33. That was my initial thought.
Manufactured in China, e-cigs consist of a battery-powered cylinder and a replaceable filter tip containing a cartridge of liquid nicotine.
The white cylinder has a microchip-activated atomizer. After inhaling on the device, users exhale a harmless, odorless vapour mimicking cigarette smoke.
The device is so similar in shape, size and function to a real cigarette that when Carey tested it, she couldnt help flicking its tip of non-existent ash.
Its like theres actual smoke coming into my mouth, Carey said. I dont know whether its a psychological thing, but Im tasting it.
According to Carey, the only noticeable difference of the e-cigarette is its weight.
Agostino said a fellow bar manager turned him on to the products. They retail for about $200 each and come with replacement tips and a charger for the cylinder.
Agostino said each tip lasts the equivalent number of puffs as a pack of cigarettes. The tips are available in a variety of flavours and nicotine strengths. As well, buyers can choose the colour that glows at the end of the cigarette Agostino picked blue.
This thing doesnt produce any smoke. Its got nothing bad in it, Agostino said. Is this the end solution? No, but I bet you its pretty close.
However, Neil MacKenzie, manager of the tobacco program at the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, is less enthusiastic about the devices. Its certainly something we dont support from a health promotion perspective, he said.
MacKenzie said Agostino is correct in assuming e-cigarettes dont fall under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, since they contain no tobacco, and are therefore legal for public indoor use.
But MacKenzie said the devices are counter-productive for those looking to quit cigarettes because they still deliver the addictive substance while reinforcing the physical action of smoking. It doesnt really deal with the habit part of the equation.
As well, MacKenzie said, e-cigarettes could make it harder for the health unit to enforce Ontarios smoking laws. Without going right up to the individual, especially if there are many people using these things, it would be pretty difficult to differentiate.
MacKenzie also noted that the devices arent exactly new. A group of entrepreneurs in Leamington had plans to sell them locally in 2007. Quite frankly, Im not sure its going to be the craze that some might want to believe its going to be, MacKenzie said.
Health Canada also has concerns about the devices. Spokesman Philippe Laroche said Health Canada recently determined that e-cigarettes fall under the federal Food and Drugs Act.
A company wishing to market the products anywhere in Canada would have to submit evidence demonstrating their safety, effectiveness and quality.
To date, Health Canada has not approved the sale of any e-cigarette product, Laroche stated.
None of that deters Agostino. He said hes considering setting up a kiosk at his club sometime next week where patrons can sample an e-cigarette once were 100 per cent sure that the product is safe for our customers.
