subject: Electronic Cigarettes on the Menu [print this page] Electronic Cigarettes on the Menu Electronic Cigarettes on the Menu
Could electronic cigarettes make a difference to the trade of cafes, restaurants and bars? It's probably far too early to tell if those establishments that permit the use of e cigarettes on their premises in spite of the ban on smoking in public places, will make any significant difference, but the questions are intriguing.
After taking a break from a shopping trip recently, my wife and I decided on a spot of a lunch at a small cafe in the town centre, nothing fancy but certainly enjoyable and tasty. About half way through my meal I noticed an elderly lady on the far side of the cafe who appeared to be dining alone and also seemed to be in some sort of distress, in that she looked very uncomfortable and unsettled.
It took me a few moments to realise that in the hand that wasn't holding the fork, as this lady picked at her food, in the other hand she clutched a cigarette lighter in her palm and a cigarette protruded from between her fingers. It was then that it struck me; this lady's slightly erratic behaviour was because she was craving her next cigarette, which of course she wasn't able to light up whilst inside the cafe.
Although extremely grateful, as a non smoker, for the smoking ban in public places, I still found it somewhat disturbing to see this woman's obvious distress. Part of me wanted to go over and introduce her to the world of electronic cigarettes, although I didn't because it just wasn't the time or the place.
Eventually, the lady got up in mid-meal, left her belongings at the table and hurried outside into the cold to smoke her cigarette. She was back a few minutes later looking much calmer and proceeded to finish her meal...which must have been at least a little cold by then.
So, back to the question, what difference could an electronic cigarette have made in this situation? Well, assuming that the establishment in question have given permission for customers to use e cigarettes, then this lady could have probably made it through her through her meal without so much discomfort and used her electric cigarette at her table without troubling other diners with clouds of second hand smoke.
The official jury is still out on the future of e cigs but many of those that have turned to them as a smoking alternative certainly know which way they will be voting!
