UK Independent: "E-cigarettes simply reinforce a terrible habit"

[sebt]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...nforce-a-terrible-habit-8867160.html#tabs-1-3

A terribly misinformed piece by someone still glowing with the virtue of having given up smoking by NRT. She obviously hasn't put in the slightest effort to research the piece:

Very little scientific research has been done into the effects of e-cigarettes and the chemicals they contain.

Er, LMGTFU: type "e-cigarette research" into Google, and a few results down the page is "ecigarette-research.com" - just for starters.

Until the research is done, we won’t know much about e-cigarettes’ secret ingredients,

"Secret" ingredients? PG/VG, nicotine, flavourings?

For as long as you are addicted to nicotine, you will be enslaved to a profit-making company that seemingly cares naught for your health or happiness. In many cases, these are the same companies that continued to push cigarettes to our parents and grandparents after they were proven to cause cancer.

Sorry, this is just - to use a technical term - Not True.

By voting against the proposal to treat e-cigs as medicinal products the MEPs have freed manufacturers – for now at least – from any restriction on their sale.

Did the "journalist" actually read amendment 170? Nope, didn't think so:

Member States shall ensure that nicotine-containing products comply with all relevant Union legislation, and in particular with Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety....

a) nicotine-containing products with a nicotine level exceeding 30 mg/ml are not placed on the market;

(b) manufacturers and importers of nicotine-containing products submit to the competent authorities a list of all ingredients contained in and emissions resulting from the use of the product, by brand name and type, including quantities thereof, as well as any changes. Member States shall then ensure the dissemination of this information on a website with due regard to the protection of trade secrets. Manufacturers and importers shall also report to the authorities about national sales volumes by brand name and type;

(c) nicotine-containing products with additives listed in Article 6(4) are not placed on the market;

(d) the unit packet of nicotine-containing products includes a leaflet with instructions for use, including that the reference that the product is not recommended for use by non-smokers, contra-indications, warnings for specific risk groups, reporting of adverse reactions, place of manufacture and contact details of the manufacturer or importer;

3. Each unit packet and any outside packaging of nicotine containing products below the thresholds set out in paragraph 1 shall carry the following health warning:

‘This product contains nicotine and can damage your health ’.

(e) each unit packet and any outside packaging of nicotine- containing products carry the following health warning:

‘This product is intended for use by existing smokers. It contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance ’;

(f) the sale of the product is restricted in line with the legal age for sale of tobacco products in the relevant Member State; in any case it should not be allowed under the age of 18;

(g) the products are available to be sold outside pharmacies;

(h) flavourings are allowed in the products;

(i) the limitations on advertising, sponsorship, audiovisual commercial communication and product placement for tobacco products as set out in Directive 2003/33/EC and Directive 2010/13/EC shall apply to nicotine-containing products;

(j) cross-border distance sales of nicotine-containing products are regulated in accordance with Article 16;

(k) tobacco trademarks, brand names and symbols are not used on nicotine-containing products.

No comments facility on the site, unfortunately.

 

[sebt]

Emailed a letter to the editor correcting these errors. Hope they publish it or amend the article!

 

[e-pipeman]

Emailed a letter to the editor correcting these errors. Hope they publish it or amend the article!

There are tabs that you can click on at the bottom of the article ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree". At the moment 10 people "Strongly Agree" and 84 "Strongly Disagree". The whole article is written in a sub-literate "yoof" style which annoys the hell out of me. Stuff like this (on any subject) should never make it into print imho. Just juvenile egotism compounded by factual inaccuracies.

 

[sebt]

Thanks for the tip - it turned out that AdBlock was blocking both the "Agree" etc controls, and the comments.

I agree with you completely about the sub-literate, smug, know-it-all style.

 

[ennagizer]

I couldn't get past reading the first paragraph of that article. I very much enjoyed reading the comments though.

 

[azzaman]

E cigs reinforce a good habit.

Not smoking cigarettes.

 

[BardicDruid]

They turned on comments, and they're not being nice to the writer at all.

 

[Uma]

Ahhhhh, how sweet. Somebody is worried about my personal habits, to the point of wanting to micromanage them. Well, they can stress and worry, toss and turn all they like, but they better not touch my dial, revise my recipes, shorten my daily walk, or touch my eCigs.

 

[e-pipeman]

They turned on comments, and they're not being nice to the writer at all.

Just what she deserves. I hope her editor takes note.

 

[Concat]

In my experience, once you’ve mastered the fear of not looking cool at parties, overcoming the physical addition is a breeze.

lol, yeah... a breeze. Sure.

 

[AgentAnia]

The young woman who wrote that article, who saved her life by quitting smoking, should be dying of embarrassment right about now...

 

[FlamingoTutu]

LOL, she's getting buried.

 

[borboleta]

What a ridiculous article. I used to live in the UK and the Independent was a pretty respectable paper there...left of center, but without the hysteria of The Guardian. I'm disappointed that they would publish something like this.