Posted By Merv Newman This may be a silly question, but do electronic cigarettes, which vaporise nicotine when the user inhales, count as smoking ? Our local pharmacist tried to flog me a set today. As an inveterate pipe smoker, but one who obeys all the rules and social niceties I did think of buying one. And what would you say if I started to "smoke" one in your office ? At 99 euros (£100 this week) I decided to postpone the decision. Merv

Posted By Ron Hunter Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 defines smoke & smoking as lit tobacco or substance containing tobacco.I guess England,Wales et al can't be that different. No tobacco, no problem? What sport to be had with the enforcers though!

Posted By Coshh Assessor Are they a fire risk?

Posted By Yossarian Merv, I suspect case law has yet to be made on this issue, but if you wish to take it up all you need to do is go to you nearest UK enforcer and "light up". They will do the rest, I'm sure. That said, it would be disingenuous of any supplier to state they were a "legal alternative to smoking indoors" without undertaking this test case.

Posted By Andy Petrie It's just a nicotene inhaler like the puffers that have been used for years, the only difference is the water vapour and the LED on the end. No test case is needed becasue it is legal.

Posted By ITK There was an article on the local news about these. They look and act like cigarettes but are not lit tobacco so therefore the regs dont apply. Have to say seeing some one use these in a pub did look rather weird.

Posted By ITK Because its not smoke its water vapour. I dont need a man in a wig to tell me that. Theres a clue on the "smoke free" website. http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/

Posted By CFT Well I am doing my best to actually give up smoking (I'm trying hard) and I am sat here typing with an electronic cigarette and smoking it between thoughts. It was £29.99 plus cartridges and is as mentioned earlier water vapour, it just happens to mimic the look (and feel to some degree) of smoke; smoke however it is not and the two non-smoking ladies who are sat within a few metres of me today are the worlds worst condemners of smoking so appreciate what I am doing. Both have no issue with this as there is no smell, it does not linger, and only works when I drag on it. Carts last a day (depends on how frequently you use it) leaves no bad taste nor breath associated issues, and is so far as I deduce from the testing and research quite harmless and does not contain the alleged 4000 chemicals, there is nicotine in the cartridge and you go from high to mid to low to No over 12 weeks or so. I am only stopping smoking because of my intention to live forever (still so far so good) and I am finding this a pleasant way of doing it; on occasions I find the electronic cig a bit boring and simply have it by the side of me, either way over the last 3 weeks (since I started the process) I have gone from 20 a day to only two yesterday and none today (so far). I suppose as a generic definition the answer would be yes; well, smoking as is perceived,because 'water-vapouring' well sounds...plain daft and it's quicker to say 'smoking.' And yes for anyone thinking of trying them it does look 100% like smoke when you puff on it; a very clever little invention (IMO) Oh they do pipes and cigars now as well. For more info see here; http://www.electroniccig...s-alternative-to-smoking (which came from 'Googs', I am just a user with no vested interest other than giving up). Chow fer now. CFT

Posted By S T It’s the smoking which is ‘banned’, not cigarettes. You can takes cigarettes to your work place and won’t break the law. Same way, if something does not ‘smoke’, it won’t breach any law. It’s as simple as it is.

Posted By Yossarian ITK, I think we are both in agreement, I was just puzzled by the conversation I had. Ron, Catch-22 states that agents enforcing Catch-22 need not prove that Catch-22 actually contains whatever provision the accused violator is accused of violating. Which neatly brings me to: Andy Barr, The link you provide doesn't seem to open when I cut & paste the link,is it available to the general public? I was however already aware of the document from other sources. As I understand it, the document seems to suggest that a premises can still be prosecuted if certain "paraphernalia" associated with smoking is found (e.g. butts, ashtrays etc.) even if patrons are only seen using the electronic items. Not a word about the individual though. Does that mean that when Merv visits the UK & strikes up, the business he visits can be prosecuted if he is seen to remove his electronic cigarette from his pouch where he also happens to keep his pipe and tobacco? Curiouser and curiouser.

Posted By CFT The charger does Mike, and I had my sticker duly displayed on it after testing, before using it on works premises. What a well behaved lad I am :-) Charley

Posted By jervis I would say no the reason for the ban was to do with passive smoking plus other things !!!!

Posted By jervis well done lynda keep it up.

Posted By Rich Bannister By a bizarre twist of fate I was in a pub last night when a gentleman walked in using one of these e-cig's Turns out he was the co-owner of www.theelectroniccigarette.co.uk He said that they have spent a lot of money having it tested to ensure that it does not break the law, which he assured me they do not. (no tobacco and nothing is burning) They've also just started producing one shaped like a pipe, which would be good for you Merv. II have no vested interest in this company and actually quit being a 40-a-day man almost 12 months ago. Try Allen Carr's Easyway book if you're serious about quitting. It worked for me!

Posted By Simo 79 Well after reading CFT's comments i ordered one and received it yesterday. Will make the transition tomorrow and hopefully it will be the start of stopping the dreaded weed. Simo

Posted By Andy Petrie Can a user of an e-cig give me some help. How many puffs does it need to equate to a normal cigarette? I've not got the hang of it yet and don't want to be overdoing it and increasing my addiction yet at the same time I want the effect so that I'm not nipping off for a fag as well.