Chard landlord welcomes electronic cigs
Landlord Ken Mason is hoping an "electronic cigarette" will boost pub trade badly hit by the smoking ban
More than 30 pubs a week are said to be closing as a result of financial pressures including, in some cases, loss of trade because of the ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants that was introduced in 2007.
Mr Mason, who runs the Furnham Inn in Chard, believes the E.cig, which first went on sale in China in 2006, could be the answer.
The device looks like a cigarette but consists of a rechargeable battery, atomiser and cartridge mouthpiece. The atomiser delivers a shot of nicotine vapour into the mouth which the user can inhale. Since no smoke is involved there is no danger of other people being harmed and it does not contravene the smoking ban.
Mr Mason is now selling the devices at his pub, although E.cigs have been criticised by some anti-smoking campaigners.
He said: "We're being clobbered in all directions. About 160 pubs across the country closed down for good in November and December alone.
"Pubs need every bit of help they can get. I've introduced it here and it's working a treat. It means people can sit in the bar, have a pint and 'puff away' and they don't have to go out into the rain."
Gemma Wells, smokefree officer at South Somerset District Counci, which is responsible for implementing the smoking ban in the Chard area said: "The national Smokefree legislation brought in last summer covers the smoking of any 'lit' substance – so this includes things like cigars, cigarettes, herbal cigarettes and pipes.
"Electronic cigarettes are not lit so they are not actually being 'smoked' – what they actually do is produce a vapour containing a small dose of nicotine, but they don't produce any smoke that could be inhaled passively by people sitting near to the user. With that in mind, technically these devices do not contravene the legislation.
"However, we wouldn't recommend to landlords that they allow electronic cigarettes in their premises because they can cause confusion to those who think they are real cigarettes that contain tobacco and give off smoke. We mustn't also forget the obvious health risks when inhaling addictive substances like nicotine."
3 Comments
by Angry Scotsman, Edinburgh
Thursday, February 19 2009, 7:18PM
“I am glad the e-cig is catching on as it is a way of sticking two fingers up at the Anti-Smoking lobby.
But beware, Highland Council in the land of "Scotbanned "have, through their Trading Standards Officers, stopped the sale of e-cigs.
I wonder if Tobacco Control or ASH Scotland had anything to do with it?”
by Phil Johnson, Leicester
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 8:27PM
“Gemma Wells said ""However, we wouldn't recommend to landlords that they allow electronic cigarettes in their premises because they can cause confusion to those who think they are real cigarettes that contain tobacco and give off smoke. We mustn't also forget the obvious health risks when inhaling addictive substances like nicotine."
Of course she would say that because from outside the pub her EHO's could not determine whether fag or e fag and aren't they gonna be miffed when they think they've got a nice fat prosecution only to find they haven't!
As for the total crap about "obvious health risks when inhaling addictive substances like nicotine"-just a poor excuse for not having the upper hand with the smoking ban. By the way-what do nicotine patches do? Assuage the 'ex-smokers' need for nicotine!
E cigs are not the answer to this carnarge, courtesy of the most unfair law ever implemented. Freedom2Coose for each licensee is the answer then smokers and non smokers can enjoy their drinks in peace and harmony
The EU have just released figures stating that air pollution kills 4 times the number of people that SHS supposedly does-so smoking pales into insignificance in the context of that bombshell. So are we to assume that smokers will now be left alone whilst cars, buses, lorries etc are targetted and victimised. After all, our city centre air is 60 times more toxic than even the wildest guesstimation of the humble fag!
The people need to unite against this dictatorial legislation which is why freedom2choose.info is there, ready and waiting for your call.”
by chas, Little Britain
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 8:15PM
“Gemma Wells, smokefree officer at South Somerset District Counci, says she does't want people inhaling 'addictive' substances with nicotine, but I bet she promotes chewing gum and patches with nicotine.”