There is an urgent need to educate the public about the potential dangers of e-cigs
KARACHI: The other day, while travelling from Karachi to Lahore by PIA, I was shocked to see two passengers puffing away electronic cigarettes (e-cig) during the flight. The flight’s crew did nothing to stop these passengers. At the time of take-off, the flight announcement did indicate that there was a ban on smoking, but did not say anything about e-cigs.
An e-cig is a device run by batteries designed to look similar to a cigarette, but it releases nicotine vapours instead of tobacco smoke, which is quite deleterious. Its use has rapidly grown in recent years, with an estimated 1.3 million people using it globally in 2013.Most other airlines in the world do not allow the use of e-cigs during flights or at airports because of safety concerns. As the ‘ends’ of an e-cig do not generate the smoke associated with the combustion of tobacco, their use is commonly believed by consumers to be safe. People who think that e-cigs are safer than traditional cigarettes need to understand that they may help some smokers quit smoking, but from a public health point of view, it is still not a good idea to actively promote a powerful addictive substance. Nicotine is, after all, a gateway to other addictive substances.
The tobacco industry’s market is shrinking because of a ban on smoking at public places and now they are desperately trying to bring new gadgets to keep their business going. There is an urgent need to educate the public about the potential dangers of e-cigs. The government must take measures to ensure that current laws on the ban of smoking at public places and in public transport also include the use of e-cigs.
Javaid A Khan
Chair National Alliance for Tobacco Control
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2014.
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