The Great E-Cig Social Experiment of 2009

[tabaquero]

Electronic Cigarette: Also known as e-cigarettes, these are electronic products which vaporize liquid nicotine and simulate the look and effects of cigarette smoking. The vapor is not smoke, but rather a water mist which momentarily resembles smoke.

I recently purchased four brands of e-cigarettes/vaporizers to research the products and to test the reactions of people in indoor spaces where the smoking bans have made smoking illegal. In particular, I have gone to one bar six times; this business is owned and staffed by cigarette smokers and one cigar smoker. In fact, before the smoking ban, it was very smoker-friendly. During my first five visits I vaped (used the e-cig) in front of the owners and staff and even shared it with a bartender, patron, and one of the owners. People liked it so much that they wanted to know where they could purchase them. In fact, over a total of ten visits to four bars, I never had a problem vaping indoors in the State of New Jersey. In fact, I even went out with one of the State Legislators who proposed the original smoking ban in NJ and vaped in front of him; to my surprise he was fine with it (although I do believe seeing me enjoy myself made him want to make the e-cigs illegal). After all, the e-cig does not emit smoke, it emits a tiny amount of water vapor. No smoke, no fire, no worries, right? ……. WRONG!

*Leaving the arguments about whether or not tobacconists should be selling these products aside, this experiment was about public perception, social stigma and reactions. The point was to determine the social acceptance level of smokers and the perception of smoking. And here are the most sensational results from E-Cig Social Experiment No. 10 on 11.20.2009:

Bartender: (from across the bar) Hey! You can’t do that in here. Go outside!

Me: It’s not a cigarette. There is no smoke. It’s legal.

Bartender: I know what it is. I don’t care. You have to go outside.

Me: But it’s legal. I’ve done it here before… while you were working…

Bartender: I don’t care, you have to go outside. People are complaining and when they see you “smoke” they will want to smoke and I can’t handle that.

Me: (directed at the Patron who complained) This is not smoke.

Patron: I don’t care, it makes me want to smoke (and then she turned her back to me – I don’t know if she was a current or former cigarette smoker)

Me: Check please. (exit the social pariah….)

This event defied logic. It is the most blatant example of smoker bigotry I have ever been exposed to and I was not even smoking. And the bigotry/smokerism came mostly from smokers! I know things would have been different if every smoker in there had an e-cig and used theirs, but they didn’t. Instead, current and/or former smokers were upset because they saw another person deriving pleasure they couldn’t. It certainly wasn’t about health or the law. The group-think mentality and smokerism directed at me was brutal; people were reacting out of fear. The bartender was fearful of the repercussions rather than acting on principle; and that is sad. But worse, is the patron who didn’t want another person to enjoy something she wanted. And that is what smokerism, smoking bans, and the de-normalization of smokers is all about. Ultimately, cigar, pipe, and cigarette smokers will all have to stand together in order to combat this oppression or we will be victims of the pleasure police and our own silence.

PS: Carry An Unlit Cigar! We cannot afford to hide, shrink, or retreat in the face of our rights being usurped. We must not allow ourselves to be marginalized! Be proactive! Join the CRA. Sign The Tobacconist Preservation Act! And Get Certified. Project your credibility and let businesses and politicians know that you vote with your wallet.

*The questions regarding tobacconists selling e-cigarettes are numerous and we are conducting ongoing research and dialogue on the TU Forums: please visit there and let us know your thoughts.

[Biphasic Stu]

I just find it hard to imagine Jorge in the same bar once, let alone twice, with an E-Cigarette. Now that is a committment to research and the preservation of individual freedoms. Now Kate might show up with one late, make that very late, at night.