With E-Cigarette Incidents Frequently Reported, Can You Vape in Public Places?

Recently, incidents involving e-cigarettes have been frequently reported:

Operating without a license was prosecuted by the court, not because of e-cigarettes!

Whose responsibility is it that e-cigarettes are "unprotected" for teenagers?

After the emergency descent incident on Air China flight CA106, high-speed trains have also changed their "clothes" to prohibit e-cigarettes.

The emergency descent incident on Air China flight CA106: one e-cigarette almost harmed 162 people!

Similarly, during the period of e-cigarette development and popularization, the industry is also moving towards more standardized regulations, gradually gaining recognition:

The London Fire Brigade in the UK also supports e-cigarettes!

Three sets of e-cigarette oil management standards in China, please read carefully and implement them seriously!

The smoking rate of e-cigarettes among U.S. military personnel has increased and is marked as a potential health issue that needs to be addressed.

National standards for e-cigarettes are about to be issued - the next windfall is coming.

So, in the current controversy, can you vape in public places?

Doctor: It is equally harmful;

Lawyer: If it is harmful, it cannot be smoked.

E-cigarettes puffing clouds

Recently, a woman sparked a dispute with other passengers while vaping on the Beijing subway, once again putting e-cigarettes in the spotlight. This electronic product, marketed as a substitute for traditional cigarettes, is popular among many young people today, but it has also sparked considerable controversy. Are e-cigarettes really smoke? Do they harm the human body? Can they be vaped in public places?

Modern Express/ZAKER Nanjing reporter Chen Yanlin

Incident

A woman vaping on the subway in Beijing causes a dispute

E-cigarettes are electronic products that mimic cigarettes. They use methods such as atomization to turn nicotine and other substances into vapor for users to inhale. Generally, e-cigarettes consist of three parts: a tube that holds the nicotine solution, an evaporation device, and a battery. The atomizer is powered by the battery rod, which can convert the liquid nicotine in the pod into vapor, allowing users to experience a sensation similar to smoking, achieving the effect of "puffing clouds." They can even have various flavors added to the tube, such as chocolate, mint, and more, according to personal preference.

On July 31, on the Beijing subway line 10, a woman was vaping while riding, and the smoke displeased surrounding passengers. When a passenger advised her to stop, she insulted him.

After the incident was shared online, it sparked heated discussions. The Beijing subway responded that the "Beijing Rail Transit Operation Safety Regulations" and the "Beijing Smoking Control Regulations" do not explicitly state regulations regarding e-cigarettes, but according to the rules, smoking is prohibited on the subway, including e-cigarettes.

This is not the first time e-cigarettes have caused controversy. Previously, in early July, the co-pilot of Air China flight CA106 caused an emergency descent due to vaping, leading to a dangerous situation during the flight. Modern Express reporters learned that the Civil Aviation Administration currently does not restrict passengers from carrying e-cigarettes, but smoking is strictly prohibited in the cabin. Airports and airlines also explicitly prohibit bringing fire sources on board, but e-cigarettes do not use open flames, and the pods can pass through security checks smoothly.

Citizens

When the craving hits in the office, vaping feels justified

In Nanjing, e-cigarettes have long been popular among smokers. Nowadays, in some office gatherings, it is common to see many people holding a pen-like device puffing clouds. Compared to traditional cigarettes, the vapor from e-cigarettes is much lighter, and the smell is not as pungent.

Modern Express reporters learned that there are mainly two types of e-cigarettes on the market: one type burns "e-liquid," using an atomizer to vaporize the liquid, simulating the smoke produced by smoking. The other type is represented by IQOS, a new type of e-cigarette product. The IQOS e-cigarette resembles a power bank, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. When you open the case, there is a heating rod that resembles a pen, into which compatible pods are inserted for heating and use, without the need for open flames. Since the pods do not actually ignite, the vapor produced is minimal. #p#分页标题#e#

A few months ago, citizen Mr. Li traveled to Japan and saw the popular IQOS e-cigarettes there. Since then, he has switched to e-cigarettes and regularly asks his tour guide to buy pods for him. Previously, when he smoked traditional cigarettes, he would avoid his wife and children, worried about them inhaling secondhand smoke. But since he started vaping, he has no qualms about doing it in front of his kids.

A citizen named Mr. Yang, who has been smoking for five years, shared that he learned about e-cigarettes through a friend's recommendation. Smoking is not allowed in the office, but with e-cigarettes, he often feels justified in vaping when the craving hits. "Compared to the swirling smoke of traditional cigarettes, this is indeed much milder."

Exploration

E-cigarettes are profitable; store owners knowingly take risks to sell them

Currently, the purchase channels for IQOS devices and pods in China mainly rely on purchasing agents and "underground" sales. On platforms like Taobao and JD, searching for "IQOS" reveals many sellers offering them. Modern Express reporters visited a store in a creative park where IQOS devices and pods were also available. The store owner told reporters that she had previously been engaged in Japanese purchasing and started this business after a friend asked her to buy e-cigarettes. "I only sell to some regular customers who have pre-ordered; there isn't much stock in the store," the owner said. "This product is illegal, and the checks are strict, so the risks are quite high."

In this store, a box of pods is priced between 37 to 40 yuan, while a pack of ten boxes costs around 370 yuan. A Mr. Wang, who lives in Japan, informed reporters that IQOS pods retail for about 20 yuan per box in Japan.

Modern Express reporters found that whether in e-cigarette experience stores or online e-cigarette vendors, there are no barriers to entry. Anyone can purchase e-cigarettes from these channels, including minors who can easily access them.

Regarding the regulation of new tobacco products like e-cigarettes, since China has not yet imported IQOS tobacco products, the related products sold in the market are smuggled through illegal channels. Modern Express reporters contacted the Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, and the staff stated that heated non-combustible cigarettes containing nicotine are classified as tobacco products and are subject to national laws and regulations. Currently, heated non-combustible cigarettes have not obtained national import permits, so they cannot be sold domestically.

Previously, police in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, uncovered a major illegal operation involving IQOS e-cigarettes. In July of this year, the Baoshan District Procuratorate in Shanghai also prosecuted a store owner for selling e-cigarette devices and pods online.

Questions

1.

Regarding whether e-cigarettes are harmful, the World Health Organization has long concluded that e-cigarettes are harmful, thus prohibiting teenagers from using them and declaring that e-cigarettes are not an effective smoking cessation tool. Dr. Ye Sheng, a respiratory physician at Nanjing Mingji Hospital and head of the smoking cessation clinic, told reporters that as long as it contains nicotine, long-term use will harm the human body. "Many studies have been conducted in Western countries on e-cigarettes, which also contain carcinogenic substances. Moreover, some e-cigarettes have higher nicotine content than traditional cigarettes, along with many known and unknown carcinogens, which are not beneficial to humans."

Patients seeking smoking cessation have also mentioned e-cigarettes to Dr. Ye, but in standardized medical practice, doctors do not recognize e-cigarettes. "Vaping e-cigarettes is similar to smoking; it still maintains the habit of smoking. If the habit does not change, it will not help with quitting smoking."

Dr. Ye also mentioned that the "secondhand smoke" from e-cigarettes can also have adverse effects on those nearby. Many people mistakenly believe that they can vape in public places without concern, which is incorrect. "In short, as long as it is smoke, it is harmful and has no benefits."

2

Can you vape in public places?

Lawyer: If it is harmful, it is not suitable to vape in public places.

Modern Express reporters learned that in 2013, the "Jiangsu Province Patriotic Health Regulations" were officially implemented, which clearly stipulates that ten types of public places, including schools and public transportation, are smoke-free zones. The "Healthy Nanjing 2030" planning outline published by Nanjing City also requires that by 2020, smoking be prohibited in indoor areas of public places, workplaces, and public transportation. However, the relevant regulations do not mention "e-cigarettes." #p#分页标题#e#

Lawyer Ni Ruichun from Jiangsu Jingland Law Firm stated that e-cigarettes are a new phenomenon, and currently, there is no specific legal definition of "smoke" in China. "Generally, the term 'smoking ban' refers to the harmful effects of smoking in public places, meaning that 'smoke' contains harmful substances. This must consider whether the vapor from e-cigarettes contains harmful substances and whether it poses a health risk to others. If there is such a risk, e-cigarettes are also not suitable for public use."

So, can you vape on the subway in Nanjing? Nanjing subway staff stated that smoking is prohibited on the subway, and vaping is also considered "smoking behavior," which is equally not allowed.

Currently, the e-cigarette industry needs to develop while hoping to provide more cultural context for e-cigarettes, so that reckless behavior does not negatively impact the industry and the public. The e-cigarette industry also requires a transitional process!