Here’s a rather boneheaded local TV news story about the electronic cigarette. If you follow e-cig news at all, you know that it’s become one of those go-to stories (blacklight in a hotel room! pedophiles next door! urine in playground sand! etc) for local producers hard up for stuff to file.

The problem I have with this story is that they gave an electronic cigarette for a women to use to quit smoking, which is a claim manufacturers can’t make. And the woman reasoned that she might as well have a real cigarette in her hand if she’s going to be puffing away at something. Erm, that’s like saying you might as well have antifreeze if you’re holding a cup in your hand. Some people like and want the sensation of smoking, without the tar or carcinogens. THAT is what is the electronic cigarette is for. And you can use zero nicotine liquid if you just want flavor.

I thought this was especially hilarious:

The e-cigarette is banned in Canada, but here in the United States, there aren’t any restrictions on selling it or even using it. WENY-TV News set up a hidden camera at Holmes Plate in Corning to find out if that’s really the case. Paula started smoking on the e-cigarette just minutes after we sat down in the restaurant. The bartender never asked Paula to put it out.

I bet the TV crew was seriously disappointed when no one said anything to ol’ Paula about her e-cigarette. Hidden cameras are local TV news channels’ bread and butter.

link: WENY-TV News – Local News