Use of electronic cigarettes in smoke-free environments

Abstract

Background Although most U.S. states prohibit cigarette smoking in public places and worksites, fewer jurisdictions regulate indoor use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Given the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use and concern about its impact on non-users, there is a need to examine the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free environments and related attitudes and perceptions. Methods Recruited from a nationally representative adult panel (GfK’s KnowledgePanel), 952 current users of e-cigarettes completed a cross-sectional online survey in 2014. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine the factors associated with ever using e-cigarettes in smoke-free environments. Results Overall, 59.5% of e-cigarette users had vaped where cigarette smoking was not allowed. Young adults (18–29 years) were most likely to do so, 74.2%. The places of first-time use most often mentioned were service venues (bar, restaurant, lounge, and club), 30.7%, followed by worksites, 23.5%. Daily e-cigarette users were more likely to have vaped in smoke-free environments than non-daily users (OR=2.08, p=.012). Only 2.5% of those who used e-cigarettes in smoke-free environments reported negative reactions from other people. Most e-cigarette users did not think e-cigarettes are harmful to themselves or to by-standers, and thus should not be banned where smoking is; those who had used e-cigarettes where smoking is banned were even more likely to hold these views. Conclusions E-cigarette use in smoke-free environments was common, suggesting that most e-cigarette users do not consider smoke-free laws to apply to e-cigarettes. Explicit laws should be considered if jurisdictions want to prohibit e-cigarette use in public places.

Electronic cigarette use in restaurants and workplaces where combustible tobacco smoking is not allowed: an Internet survey in Japan

“…Our results showed a lower proportion of e-cigarette use in smoke-free places than a previous study conducted in the USA, which reported that 59.5% of e-cigarette users had vaped where cigarette smoking was not allowed 22. We recently estimated that 6.6% of Japanese people have ever used e-cigarettes and 1.3% have used in the last 30 days;23 thus, the prevalence of e-cigarette use is still low in Japan and the impact of e-cigarette use in smoke-free areas may be small so far.…”

To “Vape” or Smoke? Experimental Evidence on Adult Smokers

“…On the other hand, there are concerns that ecigarettes may be used by smokers to circumvent public use bans on tobacco cigarettes, thus reducing the motivation to quit (Brikmanis, Petersen, and Doran 2017;Damle 2015;Dawkins et al 2013;Filippidis et al 2017;Patrick et al 2016;Pepper and Brewer 2014;Shi, Cummins, and Zhu 2016). Smokers could increase their consumption of nicotine (the primary addicitve ingredient in tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes 3 ) and become even more addicted.…”

Conflicts and controversies in contemporary tobacco control

“…Yingst et al 4 studying a mostly US-based online panel of experienced exclusive e-cigarette users, found that most users reported unrestricted use, but that the majority of those who did find their use restricted by public place policies did not find it difficult to refrain from vaping in such places. Shi et al , in a similar study5 found that e-cigarette users reported vaping in places where cigarettes were not allowed, most often in bars and clubs. They conclude that most e-cigarette users do not consider smoke-free laws applicable to e-cigarettes.…”