it is going to be an ongoing debate until a lab issues an official statement. The 2 parts to the argument keep getting mixed together.
On one part the subversion of non smoking areas seems to be the main issue. Do e-cigs violate the law banning smoking in public places. The common response is no, however the feeling most people get is if the e-cig is allowed in bars, it makes the people in the bar who have been programmed to be uncomfortable around smokers to rehash the same feelings. The appearance of vapor being blown ignites the feelings of being exposed to smoke even when it is only an illusion.
The second part is the unknown health risks if any. It seems as though the conversation in each news report starts off with people asking about part one, then use part 2 as the reason part 1 is being violated.
If there are health risks, then there is a chance
vaping in a public place could effect others as second hand smoke does with regular cigs is a violation of the clean air acts and such.
So until someone does provide a real scientific study, part one will always be in question.
The bottom line is it is not breaking the law, and it will there fore be up to the property owner of the pub owners to determine if they want to refuse service to e-cig smokers. If there is no property owner and it is a public place, like a street, then the police will most likely have to choose to enforce the law on a e-smoker.
To be honest a quick way of determining the health risk and legality of e-cig smoking in ban areas is to let it go to court. The burden of proof is on the prosecution, if they can not prove harm then the case it self sets a standard. The prosecution would need to do test on the e-cig and show a scientific study that it is harmful before someone could be convicted of breaking the law. Since smoking in banned areas is simply a petty disorderly persons offense like littering, no jail would be imposed if found guilty. A simple fine would be the worst sentence. In the grand scheme of things it will allow the e-smoke community to get a definitive answer from someone who was willing to challenge the system and be the sacrificial lamb so to speak.
Civil liberties are the key issue here. Civil disobedience has brought change to many countries, and the right to choose what you put in your body is something that American civil rights leaders have been fighting for since America was founded.