An argument against anti-smoking extravaganzas...

I agree with him.

I don't think nicotine in itself is harmful (I may be wrong). It is addictive but so are lots of other things. It's the way nicotine is delivered (smoking) that is harmful.

I thought it was the tar from the tobacco in cigarettes that's harmful. Nicotine is poisonous if ingested.

The trouble is the 'experts' are so wary of saying that e-cigs are risk free and don't cause any sort of health problems that they won't commit themselves to encouraging their use as a method of stopping smoking.

Nicotine is definitely not the harmful part - the tar is - this is straight from the Smoking Cessation Nurse who has been giving us an education session last week. And there is a risk from inhaled smoke clinging to someone's clothing now being highlighted. The e cigarettes can become addictive if you are unsure of the quantities of nicotine - smoking cessation services can help people stop these as well. The feeling is that if they help someone to stop smoking cigarettes and inhaling smoke, they are doing the job required and it is easier to stop these than actual cigarettes.

Yes I agree, but until the government relaxes the restrictions on advertising e-cigs they won't be seen by the general public as an acceptable way to give up smoking cigarettes.

Not sure whether our phoenix is still using one, but I know she managed to give up the dreaded weed in no time at all!

I suppose the worry is that there will always be some youngsters who think e-cigs are absolutely safe, whereas they wouldn't necessarily have started smoking ordinary fags.

Well you are all right nicotine is a poison but not the bad part of the cig it's the tar caused by all the chemicals which do include carcigens but e cigs are not the answer they also have chemicals and in some cases nicotine too they are very often used 'as an instead' not always a stopping agent There are so many delightful flavours that they can be very tempting not just to young people
My son in law used to go outside in the evenings to have a smoke maybe three or four visits during the evening The kids knew he smoked but didn't see him now he has his e cig which he is convinced is totally harmless he lays on the sofa in the kids words 'puffing on his pipe' all night, and in front of them, and whilst using it at home he still smokes ordinary fags when at work

Hello there!

Yes, still on the vapes, haven't had a cigarette since Good Friday, still have the odd time when I could kill for one, but I will NOT succumb!

Bit miffed about some of the new legislation though, for example after November it will be illegal to sell large bottles of the liquid, which currently work out much cheaper per mill than the smaller ones, what's that all about?

Also a bit surprised by meeeting a real fitness/health fanatic, who has never smoked, but vapes zero nicotine liquid in flavours such as strawberry daquiri, WHY?

The tars in smoke are carcinogenic, it's true, but nicotine has a disastrous effect on the cardiovascular system. It causes a huge amount of heart disease, and circulatory problems, so it's best avoided. E cigs are a useful tool in the battle against smoking, but it's best to get rid of the tars and the nicotine altogether.

I am coming up for 60 and I remember when I was about five the link between smoking and lung cancer was made. I think that there has been enough time allowed for people to give up and legislation has been enacted to protect secondary smokers.

No more public money should be spent on protecting fools from themselves and if people want to smoke substitutes warn them of the dangers, protect others from their smoke and let them get on with it.

The nanny state pokes its nose in far too much and money is wasted that could be spent productively if left in sensible people's pockets.

I have problems with the huge vaping industry that has sprung up, specialist vaping shops on every high street, people pushing to have it acceptable to 'vape' (hate the word!) in restaurants and on planes. I don't want to breathe in anyone's exhaled nicotine steam!

It it helps someone quit smoking by using it for a few months, that is wonderful, but it should be seen as a short term means to an end. It is becoming a long term replacement that sets out to make itself attractive to those who have never smoked, and I think it is right to try and prevent that.

Lily flower, what about the huge amounts of tax that smokers pay into the exchequer? That should more than cover medical costs.

I'm an ex smoker who tried vaping first but it made me cough more than cigarettes even on nil nicotine strength. I went to the doctor eventually and joined their quit programme. Took Champix and it worked a treat. Feeling so much better now and looking better having gained some much needed weight!

There are something like 2000 known carcinogens in tobacco smoke part of which is the vaporized nicotine tar content. If alternatives help to break the habit (I hesitate to use the word addiction) then sobeit but there's only one way to stop smoking that is to stop. But it's something that a smoker has to WANT TO DO and therein lies the problem.

Quite right Nanna! My late father suffered blindness in both eyes as result of macular degeneration caused by smoking, even though he had stopped (hypnosis) some eight years before the sight in his first eye was lost. I am sure that young people have no idea that this is yet another horror that awaits them if they smoke.

DH is really stroppy about smoking. He knows all the arguments against, but gets extremely difficult about National No Smoking Day and Stoptober because he will not be told what to do!

DH was a heavy smoker although not in the house ( I am mildly asthmatic). He gave up by using Vape things about 2 years ago following a bout of severe depression when he was in a home for a month with nothing to do most of the day BUT smoke.
He was very stubborn about giving up but one day he just decided to do it & it took very little time- about 6 weeks if I remember rightly.
He does say that there are times when he would love a smoke but he never has.
I was so proud of him as it was so much a part of his life.
I really think they should promote the Vape things to encourage people tp give up that way. I know several people who have given up using them.

I'm currently vamping as part of quitting. Haven't smoked for 2 weeks. Am now looking to go to a half nicotine liquid. Vaping has been a god send, my aim is to stop vaping in a couple of months once I get down to 0 nicotine liquid... So yes as an aid to cessation they should promote it. I'm not allowed to vape in the car though DH says in a confined space it makes him "high".

How can we know for absolute certain. They used to swear smoking was fine in fact I remember my mother telling me it was good for the nerves and looking concerned because I was giving it up. We must think for ourselves and not need advice (often in passing) and promotions.

Good luck to all you trying to quit , I managed to quit when smoking was banned in puplic places never used e-cigs but someone I know had a very bad chesty cough after using one . I don't think e-cigs should be allowed inside we don't know enough about them .

Lily flower, completely agree with you. I am totally against smoking in any form and can't see why people wouldn't go all out to give it up

I know I need to give up & have done in the past using Chamix but late DH a heavy smoker (difficult). I would love to give up for good & have cut down to 4/5 per day. However I have been struggling with issue around my teeth, lost front tooth & then (ancient) denture cracked. I have had to wait almost 6 months to have 1st of extractions done (problem with platelets in blood which affect clotting). 1st extractions today, top 2 broken teeth taken out & top denture in (may need altering by dentist) - gosh I feel so much better.

I will not tackle giving up smoking yet though as I don't think I'm yet in the "right frame of mind". I was told to quit alcohol last year which I have done successfully so in a few months smoking is next thing to tackle

I too hate the Stoptober & No Smoking Day - I'll do it when it's right for me

My mum stopped 'smoking' after 60 years with e-cigarettes. She always had problems before because she missed holding the cigarette. Unfortunately she already had severe lung problems when she quit and sadly died of lung cancer on New Year's Day. The e-cigarettes certainly made the last few years more comfortable for her, her coughing eased quite a bit but too late! She never missed her real cigarette.

Its one of the hardest things to stop doing!! I'm 64 and when i started smoking 44yrs ago it was allowed anywhere.even in a hospital bed.in shops.cafes.pubs.on buses trains planes etc etc I'm glad thats all changed but I am truly struggling with quitting...so hard.habitual and an addiction.......

My paternal GM was a chain smoker from age 14 till she passed away at age 87. Her DM, my GGM, never smoked, was active and agile till three weeks before her death - also at age 87.

No logic, is there?

I remember being in hospital almost 60 years ago . The matron would come round in the morning and say "How are you ladies." If anyone said they felt a bit rough she would simply say "You will feel much better after a cup of tea and a cigarette".

Could any of you vapers recommend a good make of e cig please? A PM is fine as it may be construed as advertising is suppose. I have tried a couple but have not yet managed to get a drag out of the things, leakage, useless batteries etc. I really think they may work for me along with patches which now actually do seem to work but keep falling off. Having to keep the drafted things on with masking tape is not a pleasant sight. I did try Champix a few years ago. They were beginning to work for me but the side effects were awful and I would not try those again.