BBC South Ecig Feature
BBC South carries a feature on the difficulties vapers have finding somewhere to vape at work.
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by Dave Cross
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“In most regions,” starts the video, “vaping is considered the same as smoking, but Public Health England want that to change. Phil switched to e-cigarettes two years ago; at work he has to vape alongside smokers.”
Phil says: “It’s classed the same as smoking. It’s so we smoke in the same shed as the smokers. They don’t see any difference between them. Yes, I’m getting second-hand smoke, which may not be the best thing in the history of the universe given that I am vaping now.”
The journalist cites Public Health England as estimating that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, and that they told employers to support smokers looking to quit by making clear there’s a distinction between smoking and vaping.
Ian Green, representing the Independent British Vape Trade Association said: “Consumers and vaping advocates are daily mesmerised by the amount of misinformation and contradictions out there. I’m not sure how quickly that is going to change, but it needs to.”
Some of the comments made after the video were understanding and empathetic. Andrew said: “Coming from some one that vapes, I can't see why smoking and vaping are different and I think vaping should be confined to smoking areas when in a public place IE pubs or restaurants. Vaping is just as anti social as smoking for some one that doesn't do it.”
If there is one thing that will not change anybody’s mind on the matter then it’s being abused for not knowing better. And so some vapers did themselves and vaping no favours on the BBC South Facebook page.
Alex stated that, as a vaper, he agreed with Andrew’s position but was quickly denounced as a “5th columnist” by Alan. Quite what is to be gained from vapers attacking other vapers is anybody’s guess.
Michelle was either honest or trolling when she added her well liked comment: “They smell disgusting and who knows what is in the clouds they blow out. Had a couple next to me in a pub and it was worse than cigarette smoke. Sickly sweet fruity smell. Just give up!”
Vince wondered if vaping in public encouraged teens to think it was OK to smoke – to which Fergus advanced vape’s love and understanding by informing him that he’s “not very bright”. And then, when Rachel was asking for a bit of respect and understanding from vapers, Fergus leapt onto his high horse again to tell her she shouldn’t be taking her children into a pub in the first place.
It is difficult to see how employers are going to transition to a two-step system of supporting smokers to quit if what they see of vaping online is belligerence and conflict. How is rudeness going to improve the public image of electronic cigarettes? Jane sums it up: “Hahaha reading the comments on here would have me in fits of laughter if it wasn't such a serious matter.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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