Welsh plan to force vapers out of the workplace

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/09/welsh-plan-to-force-vapers-out-of-workplace

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The proposed Welsh legislation to ban indoor “vaping” is to be welcomed, for two reasons (Welsh plan to ban e-cigarettes in enclosed places comes under fire, 9 June). First, the habit will re-introduce smoking culture into indoor places, and in doing so is likely to make it much more difficult to bring the tobacco-smoking epidemic, the world’s biggest mass killer, to an end. Second, it threatens to rehabilitate the tobacco industry as a health partner in “harm reduction”, presenting various smoking options as a matter of “personal preference”. The reality is that tobacco smoking remains a highly addictive and dangerous habit, and nicotine substitutes, including e-cigarettes, have some part to play in overcoming that addiction. The restoration of smoking as a lifestyle choice will have exactly the opposite effect. The tobacco industry is busy destroying the health of millions in Africa and the far east; it must not be allowed to regain ground here.Philip BarberConsultant respiratory physician, University Hospital of South Manchester

• I am sorry to learn that the charity ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) does not support the Welsh government’s proposed ban on e-cigarettes in workplaces and enclosed public spaces. The point that is consistently missed from the public debate is that nicotine itself is not harmless and is highly addictive, as well as potentially lethal in overdose. In the US in 2013, more than half of the e-cigarette users amongst high school students had not previously smoked tobacco and this proportion is increasing. Whether they do then go on to use tobacco is immaterial. Clearly the main aim of the commercial organisations promoting these products is to create customers addicted to a dangerous substance. We already have plenty of nicotine replacement products available to assist with giving up the fags. Time to wake up and smell the vapour.Dr Brian CurwainChristchurch, Dorset