Smoking Norms and the Regulation of E-Cigarettes

Abstract

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)-commonly called e-cigarettes-are at the center of a polarized debate. How should they be regulated? Central to this debate is the concern that e-cigarettes could lead to the renormalization of smoking and that the regulation of ENDS should therefore be modeled on the regulation of conventional cigarettes. I argue that arguments based on the renormalization of smoking can lend support to restrictions on marketing of ENDS, but that such arguments are problematic when used to justify restrictions on where ENDS can be used. The debate has been insufficiently sensitive to the ethical complexities of attempts to manipulate social norms to change health behaviors; these complexities must also inform the debate about ENDS and their regulation.

E‐cigarettes, vaping and performativity in the context of tobacco denormalisation

“…, Kalousova ). In a rejection of the idea that smoking may be renormalised through vaping, Voigt () draws upon a common sense argument in which vaping and smoking are viewed as distinctly different activities. Similarly, Britton et al .…”

Should e-cigarette use be permitted in smoke-free public places? No

“…This would be all the fault of non-smokers selfishly putting their own health and comfort ahead of vapers and contributing to their stigmatisation 25. By this argument non-smokers should be happy to be exposed to ambient vape in aircraft, workplaces, restaurants and bars (or even sustained clouding sessions) to make ENDS users feel more ‘included’ and in the hope that they might quit smoking.…”

The Use of E-cigarettes Among School-Going Adolescents in a Predominantly Rural Environment of Central Appalachia

“…[10] This situation has generated contentious debates among healthcare and public health professionals. [21–23] While some perceive e-cigarettes as harm reduction devices[24] that can aid smoking cessation,[25–27] others have raised concerns about their safety and likelihood of renormalizing smoking,[28, 29] the potential of introducing nonsmoking youth to nicotine addiction,[19, 30, 31] the use of e-cigarettes as a “gateway” to smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products,[32, 33] and the potential to undermine smoking cessation and eradicate public health gains over the past half century through “dual use”. [1, 19] Despite the reported increase in usage at the national level,[8] and elsewhere in the U.S.,[34] very limited information is available in Tennessee or Central Appalachia, generating the critical need for this study.…”