to think that banning vapes while permitting cigarettes is lunacy?

[PuzzledObserver]

I’m not a fan of vapes, you understand - I think they look daft. And they are probably not risk-free (what is?), but they sure as hell are a lot less harmful than cigarettes. Plus, as a non-smoker, they’re a lot less intrusive.

So AIBU to think that San Francisco have got their legislation back to front?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48752929

I think the ban on over the counter sales is really to try and stop under age people vaping. It’s a real problem over there. Adults can still buy vaping supplies online with stringent ID checks. (But yanbu, it does seem extreme)

Kids think it's cool and can get hold of nicotine free vaping stuff.

Which isn't harmless at all. There's a whole load of us who are allergic to some of the components in the vape juice.

A few months back I was very ill because I was sat in a room with people vaping with those heavy duty vape pipes. Cigarette smoke isn't good for my asthma but it's never put me in hospital unlike vaping.

Adults can still buy vaping supplies online with stringent ID checks

That’s not how I read it - they’ve banned any online retailer from delivering to an address in the city.

Puzzled you’re right, it’s too early for me to be reading news articles

If we’d known then what we know now about smoking, it would never have been legalised. It’s still legal - just - but it’s becoming more and more socially unacceptable and you can’t smoke anywhere you please.

It makes sense to ban vaping while the jury is still out. We don’t know the long-term effects of it yet. I think it’s a good idea. And I say this as someone that smokes a pack a day.

Vapes arent 'harmless', ingesting chemicals is not 'harmless'. Im sure lots of posters will annecdotally tell you their grandad smoked until they were 107 and never contracted lung cancer. Vaping will increase your changes of lung related diseases

Im an ex smoker. I cant stand vaping - having to wade through cludes of watemelon fugg out side the entrance to work. It like an over dose of a poor quality air freshener.

Full of chemicals:

Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful ingredients, including:

ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
volatile organic compounds.
heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.

Both should be banned outright and are disgusting

OP, you're right, vaping is considered a much lower risk than cigarettes. It makes no sense and will likely result in a reduction in the rates of smokers quitting. Not in the best interests of public health.

Fwiw the take up of vaping by underage or Jon smokers in the UK has never been demonstrated to be significant. It is all anecdotal evidence, ans the risks highlighted by a PP have not been demonstrated formally outside of unrealistic lab conditions. There's a lot of politics involved unfortunately....

Well Public Health England says vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking. I've read there has been alot of lobbying from pharmaceutical industries.

AFAIK, diacetyl isn't used any more and all the pollutant type stuff was found under lab conditions when they cranked the thing up to way beyond what any sane person would use.

Diacetyl is not used in vape flavourings any longer.

You’re right OP, this is completely the wrong way around, I wonder why respiratory consultants are suggesting their smoking patients try vaping instead, and Public Health England are backing it all too!

I saw a report recently that they are considering imposing plain packaging on sweets and crisps. Personally I would support that, as an out and out food addict. It would help me.

Banning them would help me even more.... but that will never happen. Maybe that’s why they’ll never ban cigarettes.

Yes completely ridiculous

It makes sense that they've banned vaping as San Francisco has also banned menthol and other flavoured cigarettes.