The debate surrounding e-cigarettes is simple if there is a campus-wide ban on traditional cigarettes then there should be a ban on electronic cigarettes as well.
They’re water vapor and don’t create second hand smoke. But think of it this way, minors can’t buy alcohol free beer. It may be labeled as alcohol free, but it still contains a low percentage of alcohol. It is modeled after its alcohol-included counterpart after all. E-cigarettes contain varying amounts of nicotine and some chemicals. Low levels are not the same as no levels. Research is not conclusive as to if they are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but if the same way alcohol laws apply to alcohol free beer then it is best to treat e-cigs the same as their smoke based counterparts.
Do we want to return to the days of smoking in offices, on buses and classrooms, even if that smoke is water vapor? The vapor is unlikely to cause the negative health effects that second hand smoke does but the intent is the same. Any sort of vapor can be distracting. We all have a right to decide what we put into our bodies but respect existing smoking bans. Smoking areas and smoke breaks exist for a reason.
The rise of electronic cigarettes is upon us. Now is the time to decide how to use them. They are a step in the right direction if they are cleaner than traditional cigarettes and can be used as a way to curb nicotine dependence. They may have many benefits but smoking is smoking no matter the form it takes. Honor the smoking ban on campus, even if you’re exhaling water vapor.
