E-Cigaretes & Scotch ( How to serve, VIDEO )

E- Cigarete

Ever notice someone smoking an e-cigarette in the middle of the mall, and think, “Are they allowed to do that?” Currently: yes. Soon: maybe not. The FDA recently released a statement explaining their plans to regulate e-cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed in 2009. The idea is to classify the c-cigs under the act, subjecting them to the same regulations as tobacco products. “Currently, e-cigarettes are completely unregulated,” says Erica Sward, Director of National Advocacy at the American Lung Association.

Some background: The U.S. Court of Appeals decided that the smokeless cigarettes should be considered tobacco products in 2010 (as opposed to drug devices, which would have meant stricter regulation). But this didn’t actually change any regulations—that’s up to the FDA.
What regulations might the controversial cigs be up against now that the FDA is moving forward?

Under the act, states might decide if they’re included in indoor air laws (not much is known about the second-hand consequences) and if flavors should be prohibited.
They may also need to list their ingredients, which is especially important considering that an FDA sampling found some e-cigarettes laced with prescription drugs, painkillers, and even an ingredient in anti-freeze, explains Sward. “If they were subject to regulation, the contents of the cigarettes may be more consistent,” she says.
They may need to ditch their quitting claims, depending on what e-cig-specific regulations the FDAwrites into the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. They might not be able to say that they help you quit until studies can prove it. “There’s no evidence supporting this as a means of quitting,” says Sward. “When you’re ready to kick the habit, it’s best to go for what we know works, which is counseling.”
So before you swap your smoky cigs with a smoke-free miracle alternative, keep in mind that there’s evidence that they can help you quit—and that there’s no way of knowing what’s in them. Try the Kick-Ash Plan instead.