Second of two parts.
Lighting up an e‑cigarette in a Branford restaurant is a work in progress. Since no laws have been passed regarding the use of e‑cigarettes in public places, it’s uncharted territory for them, except for the fact that teens under 18 are prohibited from buying or smoking e‑cigarettes.
The Connecticut Clean Indoor Air Act has prohibited cigarette smoking in most public buildings since 2003. Across the nation some cities have taken action against e‑cigarettes even though they may be a way to stop smoking. For example, in March, Los Angeles barred e‑cigarettes in restaurants, parks and work places.
A survey of some local restaurants provided differing policies with some restaurants saying yes in the bar area, no in the dining room or not at all.
• Townhouse Diner: E‑cigarettes are not allowed.
• Home: E‑cigarettes are not allowed. “They scare off people.”
• Assaggio: “E‑cigarettes are fine. We have numerous clients with e‑cigarettes… no problem.”
• Eli’s on the Hill: E‑cigarettes are not allowed.
• La Luna: “That’s fine. No complaints though some people have questioned.”
• Pasta Cosi: “We prefer they use them in the bar, not in the dining room.”
• SBC Restaurant & Brewery: “We do allow for now. There’s talk of changing the policy.”
• Chowder Pot: E‑cigarettes are allowed in the bar, but not in the dining room.
• Nellie Green’s: “It’s fine. We haven’t had a problem.”
• Lenny’s: Not allowed inside or on the deck.
• Dockside: Not allowed in the main dining room, but okay on the two decks.
Feds and Meds Weigh In
It’s no surprised that a host of medical organizations and the government have raised red flags when it comes to teens and e‑cigarettes. Click here to read Part 1.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported recently that experimentation with e‑cigarettes more than doubled among US middle school and high school students from 2011 to 2012. The primary concern expressed is that the marketing, sales, and distribution of the product is unregulated. There’s also the safety factor – although they have fewer toxins that regular cigarettes – and the fact that many are manufactured in China, along with the fear that experimenting will lead to the use of conventional cigarettes resulting from marketing efforts. Critics of the CDC report say that its statistics are skewed based on intention, rather than use of e‑cigarettes.
The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society stop short of endorsing e‑cigarettes for smoking cessation, but acknowledge that they can be considered after counseling and approved methods such as nicotine patches have been tried. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study pointing to nicotine as a “gateway” to other drugs. There’s a fear that without regulation, e‑cigarettes will be marketed to teens the same way analog cigarettes were marketed to previous generations. Indeed, ads for e‑cigarettes now appear on television, primarily on the cable networks.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tobacco products and has issued a proposed rule to cover additional tobacco-related products such as e‑cigarettes, stating that they have not been fully studied and the potential risks and benefits are not known. The American Medical Association (AMA) supports the FDA and has adopted its own policy opposing the sale of e‑cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems to minors.
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