Just when you thought it might be safe to light up your e-cigarette in your local watering hole, think again: As New York city’s ban on e-cigs in public places takes effect this week, lawmakers in Albany are proposing legislation that would extend the ban to the the rest of the state. If passed, the measure will prohibit their use in public spaces, including restaurants, offices, sporting arenas and parks.
“We want the same restrictions for e-cigarettes as regular cigarettes,” said Sen. Kemp Hannon, who represents Nassau County and is chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “Smokers’ rights end when they start affecting nonsmokers.”
The “smokers rights” argument is exactly what grinds the gears of proponents of electronic cigarettes, also known as “personal vaporizers.” It’s their contention that vaporizing isn’t smoking at all, because instead of burning tobacco, the devices deliver nicotine by heating a concentrated vapor to the user. They contend that the expelled vapor is essentially water vapor, and isn’t any more harmful.
“This has nothing to do about protecting others,” said Audrey Silk of Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment. “This is about control.”
Part of New York’s impetus to take action was the fact that at present, e-cigarettes aren’t regulated by the FDA. To that end, the agency announced last week that it intends to start doing so. For producers and consumers of personal vaporizer products, their hope is that state and local governments wait to take their queue from the federal agency. New York city, however, is taking no such chances.
“E-cigarettes are unregulated and rapidly growing in popularity, despite their potential for addiction and unknown health risks,” said Health commissioner Mary Bassett. “New York City is proud to join other major cities in limiting the use of these products in places where conventional smoking is restricted.”
