A Smoke Screen Of Vape Fog
If you’re like me, you’ve been following the hoopla over the proposed ban of flavored e-cigarettes with mild interest, at best. On the one hand, the motivation seems so typically disingenuous. It’s one more distraction in a long line of distraction the administration has put up and should not be taken seriously. When is the last time anyone currently in the White House payed attention to what was going on in the commons?
On the other hand, it’s not the worst policy introduced recently, and it has sparked some intriguing conversation. Many commentators claim that such a policy opens the door for other policies that would not be so well received by the policy makers. I’d like to follow the logic of some of those arguments as well as address some concerns of my own.
This is a bit of a simplification but the cited argument for banning flavored e-cigarettes is that at least six deaths of young people have been linked to e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are a growing business, are specifically marketed as an alternative to cigarettes, and are becoming just as ubiquitous. To hear the President tell it, the six deaths lit a fire under the First Lady in concern for her (their) son. The CDC and FDA have confirmed there is some unknown in this still relatively new product that does pose a health concern.
An abundantly accessible product that is causing the deaths of children at an increasing rate and could be regulated by the government. The obvious and most popular reaction has been to draw the link to guns. If the First Family is concerned about the risk e-cigarettes pose after the death of six children in a few months, shouldn’t there be a similar concern for items that hit that same number nearly every day?
Another question this proposed ban made me ask was, “what about football?” According to a 2017 report, 13 individuals died as a result of playing football. That stat includes professional, but the report specifically mentions that the largest portion is at the youth level. That’s twice the e-cigarette rate and is specifically focused on bringing in youth participation. Do we have to dismantle youth football if this e-cigarette ban is implemented?
Also, what about normal cigarettes? The rates of cigarette smoking have been going down for years, especially among children, (although e-cigarettes have hindered that reduction a bit). This drop is the result of increased knowledge, regulation, and prevention programs. Anyone of the proper age can still go buy cigarettes though. We are still losing people to the effects of normal cigarettes, and at a much higher rate than six every nine months.
The eventual inconsistency of a ban like this is easy to look for. Banning e-cigarettes is also a poor political move. It’s the kind of overreaching and draconian law that make government the enemy. People got upset when New York banned large soda pop. Banning e-cigarettes would be similarly disastrous.
Personally, I have a more laid-back interpretation. I think an individual should be able to make whatever stupid decision they want. When your stupid decision impacts other people though, then regulation is appropriate. The government shouldn’t be about governing an individual, it should be about governing a society.
Keep in mind though, this is all distraction from the real issues and chaos surrounding the current administration. As much fun as it is to point out the hypocrisy that runs through their veins, I hope these 600 words is the limit of attention you or I give to the issue. Don’t let the vape-fog be a smoke screen.
