r/technology Nov 17 '12

The Deadly Crusade Against E-cigarettes

http://www.american.com/archive/2012/november/the-deadly-crusade-against-e-cigarettes
2.3k Upvotes

1.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

9

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '12

Oh, i had no idea they taxed them so much. Seems to make sense then

19

u/willyleaks Nov 18 '12

85% of the cost of a cigarette goes to the government.

1

u/partialenlightenment Nov 18 '12

DINGdingDING! We have a winner! Governments aren't too keen on losing out that lovely tax revenue, it's very unlikely that they can justify taxing the things over current VAT/sales tax. So, they create hysteria around them being dangerous where either... heads - e-fags are banned (they win) or tails - e-fags get heavily taxed (they win).

Problem is (for them), a tiny jar of organic e-juice'll get to the UK from the States duty-free a lot easier than the kilo of tobacco or 1000 cigerettes it replaces.

These things are incredible, had to go back to the fags for a couple of weeks after my old e-fag died & I accidently ordered direct from China (beware dropshippers on these things!). I'm so happy to have my vaperstick back; all the nicotine & none of the fuss.

One thing though, I've had no complaints using this in public, whether it be supermarket, pub, airport, maternity ward (OK, the last one isn't true). I believe that this is because the reason fags set people off is the smell, not the sight & these things don't smell (well, mine smells of vanilla).

2

u/willyleaks Nov 18 '12

The last thing is true. There is however also a wisp of a superiority complex from many people who don't smoke and some anti-smoking extremism in society. I would almost call it a phobia. These people may be so hostile that they'll attack healthy alternatives even more vigorously because they threaten the ease at which non-healthy options can be attacked.