Electronic Cig ads on the TV

[Otta]

Heard about this on R4 this morning. I think it should depend on whether it's a child or adult space. I can see how e cigs may normalise smoking in a child's eyes, but any adult that may decide to take up smoking because they see someone else doing it doesn't deserve saving.

[ReidySamo]

I agree with the majority here that e-cig advertising should have tighter regulations and not glorify smoking because whether it is an e-cig or a normal cigarette it is the same action. IMO however, I think it is a step in the right direction to get current smokers to stop smoking, I have a number of friends who now use e-cigarettes and have stopped smoking. So I think some promotion of e-cigarettes is a necessary step to helping a lot more people stop smoking

[BrandNewGuy]

A quote from the report linked to above:

"... their use in enclosed public places could normalise smoking behaviour."

Huh? Why only in enclosed spaces? If it's a public health drive, surely the location is irrelevant. Indeed, kids or 'vulnerable' young people are more likely to see people using e-cigs out on the street rather than in pubs and clubs. It reinforces the suspicion at the time of indoor smoking ban that it was less to do with the health of staff and other customers and more to do with taking a moral stand. I'm not saying that's necessarily wrong, but at the time ministers and others stressed that it was a direct health measure.

What next? Making obese people eat their pies away from where young people might see tham enjoying their fatty treats?

It would be good if people stopped smoking. And it would be good if few or no young people took it up. But the tut-tutting nannying of measures like this is irritating.

FWIW I gave up smoking ten years ago but respect the right of others to smoke as long they don't directly affect those who don't want to breathe their smoke.