The Chicago City Council has passed an ordinance banning e-cigarettes smoking at public places.
The Council voted 45-4 on Wednesday to ban the use on e-cigarettes at public places.
This is a significant move to regulate the increasingly popular cigarette alternatives.
With this new development, the minor e-cigarette smokers will not be able to buy the same. You can no longer smoke e-cigarettes in public places, restaurants, sporting venues or those areas where it is banned. The most important among all is that the sellers of e-cigarettes must now be licensed.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is a huge supporter of placing restrictions on the modern smoking devices, said, “I applaud City Council in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of Chicago’s youth as we continue the fight against Big Tobacco. Regulating e-cigarettes will protect our children from getting hooked on their kid-friendly flavors and marketing. This ordinance stand up for our children while ensuring all residents has the right to clean air and healthy environment.”
Notably, Los Angeles and New York City have recently passed similar ordinances.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for more than 440,000 deaths annually.
What is E-Cigarette?
Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are a smoke-free alternative to the traditional paper cigarette. It is comprised of a liquid cartridge attached to a white cylinder containing a battery. The liquid is a mixture of propylene glycol (a common chemical used in many in food products), vegetable glycerin, flavoring and nicotine. The battery heats the liquid into a vapor that the user inhales. Instead of the tradition term ‘smoking’, having e-cigarettes is called “vaping.”
E- cigarettes range from around USD 10 to as much as USD 70 depending upon the manufacturers. Although prices of the complete set of electronic cigarettes vary, pre-filled liquid cartridges usually cost a few dollars. , These cartridges usually last about as long as a pack of regular cigarettes. Flavoured e-liquid are also available for the vaping lovers at a price ranging from a few dollars to more than USD 10 depending on size.
