Another day, another vaping ban… or at least that is how it feels. Today we have news of the latest ruling to be enforced against vaping – this time in New York State. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has put his signature to the Clean Indoor Air Act, which means vaping will be made illegal in all public places in the state. This puts vaping on the same footing as smoking, which is already banned in public spaces.
The change to the law will happen in 30 days’ time. New York has often led the way when it comes to smoking bans. It has outlawed smoking in public places ever since 2003. Now, those same public spaces – including offices, restaurants, cafes, and bars – will no longer be vape-friendly for those looking to switch from smoking to electronic cigarettes.
A big change?
At first glance, it would appear the ban is another major step in the direction of making it harder to vape in public. However, on closer inspection, many locations within New York State have already put bans in place. It’s been impossible to vape in New York City, for example, for the past four years.
So, few people will notice much of a change in the state when the law becomes active in a few weeks’ time. The Governor said he was aiming for a “stronger, healthier New York” for everyone. However, he also mentioned the “long-term risks” posed by vaping, even though studies have shown the habit is far safer than smoking.
Nicotine addiction is mentioned as one of the major concerns surrounding vaping. But since most vapers are switching to e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking, surely it is throwing the baby out with the bathwater to assume vaping is just as bad as smoking? Cigarettes contain far more things that can be harmful than e-cigs, where nicotine is clearly the main concern. By switching to e-cigs, many people who have tried and failed to quit smoking before are now able to do so successfully. And let’s not forget other smoking cessation aids, such as nicotine patches. These have, oh… nicotine in them. So, should we ban those as well?
What are your thoughts on this latest ban for vapers to contend with? Do you live in New York? Do you think trying to quit smoking with the help of e-cigs is getting harder?
