Is Blowing Clouds on a Bus Really Not Illegal?

　　According to online reports, at noon on the 5th, a young man in Qingdao was using an e-cigarette on a bus, casually “blowing clouds” without concern. Some residents questioned this, noting that Qingdao has already entered a “smoking control” phase, with smoking prohibited in six major categories of designated places, including public transportation. So does that include e-cigarettes?

　　In response, staff from the Public Health Division of the Qingdao Health Supervision Bureau said that e-cigarettes are not included in the scope of smoking control, and using e-cigarettes in public places is not illegal.

　　The staff member further explained that e-cigarettes are regarded as a smoking cessation aid, and Qingdao’s smoking control regulations clearly define smoking as inhaling or carrying lit cigarettes, cigars, cut tobacco, tobacco leaves, and other tobacco products. E-cigarettes are not included in that definition.

　　When it comes to quitting smoking, many people want to quit but may struggle and relapse repeatedly. As a result, many smoking cessation methods and tools have appeared, such as using snacks to distract from cravings, simulated smoking methods, nicotine patches, e-cigarettes, and so on. Among these, e-cigarettes are considered a relatively effective aid for quitting smoking. First, they allow users to maintain the hand-to-mouth smoking action; second, they avoid the harmful substances found in cigarettes and also eliminate harm from secondhand smoke to family members and people nearby; third, after using them for a period of time, users can gradually switch to e-liquid with lower nicotine content and ultimately break their dependence on nicotine and quit smoking completely.

　　In particular, e-cigarettes are also seen as a stylish accessory that boosts personal appeal. Their popularity is not only due to their perceived safety and health benefits, but also because they have become a symbol of today’s trend culture. In fashion and entertainment news, as well as on movie and TV screens, we often see male and female celebrities holding e-cigarettes—for example, Johnny Depp using an e-cigarette on a train in The Tourist, or Leonardo DiCaprio bringing one to the Golden Globe Awards.