What to do where smoking bans are enforced

The United States Congress and President Obama recently passed legislation that will require the FDA to develop “graphic” labels for cigarette packaging in the next two years.  The word warning will have to be written in size 17 capital letters.  They will have to drop the “this product may cause…” type of language and say simply, “Smoking can kill you,” or “Smoking causes a slow and painful death.”  Countries like Brazil go one step further:  they show images like a cadaver with a hole in its throat, a gangrened foot, or a mouth rotting from disease.

Not pleasant, but neither is smoking.  Smokers have been pushed further and further from public buildings, and even private establishments – and for good reason.  It is harmful to not only the smokers, but to everyone around them.  In the past decade, smoking has been banned from restaurants and even the one time safe haven of smokers, bars.  You cannot smoke at work or in stores.  You may not even smoke in your own home or car because you don’t want the lingering fumes and toxins affecting your family.

If you have spent your last break huddled against freezing temperatures or sweltering in the heat, you may be ready for a switch.  Remember the days when smoking was allowed everywhere?  Those days are now.  Why don’t you take your next smoke break at your desk or while you wait for your food in a restaurant?

But isn’t smoking banned virtually everywhere?  Traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are, certainly.  But with an innovative electric cigarette kit, you can “smoke” without smoke.   E-cigarettes, also called smokeless cigarettes, are designed to mimic the look, feel, and taste of cigarettes but without the harmful chemicals, foul odor, and flame.

How does it work?  An e-cigarette has a battery and vaporizer in one small, slim unit.  Onto this, you attach an e-liquid cartridge, which contains the nicotine and flavoring.  You inhale, which activates the vaporizer.  An odorless, nontoxic vapor is created.  This is what the smoker inhales, and the remainder dissipates harmlessly within seconds.  It is absolutely safe for those around the smoker.

Because it contains none of the 4000 chemicals found in cigarettes, has no smoke, and requires no flame, these e-cigarettes can be enjoyed anywhere.  If you want to “light up” in a restaurant, you are free to do so.  If you want to have a cigarette while at the movie theater or bar, you can.  You can have one in your car on the way to work – you can even have one at work, if you want.

You may encounter a few scowling looks when people think you are lighting up a traditional cigarette.  If you are asked about it, you can simply assure people that it is a smokeless cigarette and is not harmful to anyone.  You may even convert a few smokers when they see that you can enjoy your cigarette anywhere and anytime you like.

Smoking bans serve a very real and very important purpose.  Your decision to smoke should not impact those around you, and with e-cigarettes, it will not.  You still may not want to have one while in a meeting with your boss, but at least you know you can have one during lunch or during a quick break.  It’s time to come in from the cold and try e-cigarettes.