Health officials in southwestern Ontario are glad to see the provincial government putting regulations on electronic cigarettes.
Legislation introduced Monday will impose bans on selling e-cigarettes to youth, and using them in restaurants and public buildings.
Youth Engagement Coordinator with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit Jeff Moco says it just makes sense, as there seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the products. "We've had calls from numerous businesses saying, 'hey, these people are smoking these indoors. I'm not sure what they're smoking. Is it tobacco, is it not tobacco, etc., etc.' So, from a regulation standpoint, it doesn't fit in."
Moco says the health unit can't support e-cigarettes because there's still research being done to determine the health effects of the vapour being smoked. He adds that the imagery and lifestyle surrounding the products is the same as tobacco cigarettes, and is something Smoke Free Ontario would like to be rid of.
