Linda now says 'e-cigs are not medicines...'

[zigackly]

No problem mate, easy thing to misunderstand and I think a lot of people did!

 

[Infamous]

Yes, one of their pearls of wisdom is to ban any cross-border promotion of ecigs (if I remember the crux of it correctly), which would apply to any internet forum

Bob and No, the internet is years ahead of them.

 

[Fleabag]

well, that's something I suppose

So when they've outlawed all the stuff we currently use, we can still sit here and reminisce about the good old days!

 

[Chegs]

There isn't a Politician living who is brave enough to poke their head above the parapet & declare "e-cigs are safer than smoking" in case they're proved wrong before their pension is due & they have to resign out of pocket.

 

[Infamous]

well, that's something I suppose

So when they've outlawed all the stuff we currently use, we can still sit here and reminisce about the good old days!

Why reminisce? May i point out that more people smoke marijuana in the UK than vape. Hasn't stopped them, nor do the police knock on their door to stop them either.

 

[Fleabag]

Why reminisce? May i point out that more people smoke marijuana in the UK than vape. Hasn't stopped them, nor do the police knock on their door to stop them either.

True, but how available will tanks of over 2ml be? And we know nic concentrate will be banned. I know there's still a lively market in cannabis paraphernalia, but the difference is that those users went into it as an illegal activity. We didn't.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Planet of the Vapes mobile app

 

[steffijade]

If you're talking about this proposed addition to the TPD, then it will not apply to you or me or forums like this:

e) any form of public or private contribution to any event, activity or individual with the aim or direct or indirect effect of promoting electronic cigarettes and involving or taking place in several Member States or otherwise having cross-border effects is prohibited;

I'll show you why not with a quote from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 11:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected."

The EU cannot bring into place any law which breaches that charter without a separate enactment of law to change the charter, which is not within the scope of the TPD. The TPD only addresses the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU, and cannot withdraw your right to freedom of expression. That's a fundamental right.

What they are doing in the TPD, if that bit even makes it in there, is trying to stop people who manufacture or sell ecigs from promoting those products across borders, not to "gag" anyone.

I wonder if social media sites such as facebook and twitter would feel threatened by discussions of vaping devices if that addition to the TPD goes through?

As private companies, they aren't bound by any right to ensure freedom of expression and if they feel that they might be liable to have some sort of legal action taken against them for allowing vaping devices to be discussed, and as a result, promoted, what's to stop them from introducing unilateral bans on vaping discussion?

We've already seen lots of private companies banning vaping on their premises despite the fact vaping isn't covered in the smokefree legislation. Who's to say that we won't see similar 'just in case' attitudes across the internet?

Sometimes, it's not the letter of the law that counts, it's the implied threat of liability.

 

[zigackly]

I wonder if social media sites such as facebook and twitter would feel threatened by discussions of vaping devices if that addition to the TPD goes through?

As private companies, they aren't bound by any right to ensure freedom of expression and if they feel that they might be liable to have some sort of legal action taken against them for allowing vaping devices to be discussed, and as a result, promoted, what's to stop them from introducing unilateral bans on vaping discussion?

We've already seen lots of private companies banning vaping on their premises despite the fact vaping isn't covered in the smokefree legislation. Who's to say that we won't see similar 'just in case' attitudes across the internet?

Sometimes, it's not the letter of the law that counts, it's the implied threat of liability.

No, because that addition to the TPD would only affect manufacturers and sellers who were trying to promote products across borders, and facebook and twitter want to keep people using them not drive them away for no reason. There are far more damaging and worrying things in the proposed revisions to the TPD than stopping UK vendors advertising in Germany or what have you.

 

[Fleabag]

Mind you, look at the extreme approach to anything linked to vaping on ebay. I can understand the nic-containing products, but to ban all vaping products, including batteries & tanks & effectively leave an open market to less scrupulous vendors with their dodgy ego sets sold as eshisha because that term isn't banned, even though it's basically the same thing, is overkill

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Planet of the Vapes mobile app

 

[Doofry]

I cannot see how 'eshisha' could be banned, if it is potentially 'nic-free' then no laws are being broken?
If things go down that route then gum and breath freshening sprays would have to be banned, they are treading down a potential mine field.
Then you have the likes of Mcavan who would see lipsticks and lollipops banned 'incase' children thought it was like smoking.

I am pretty sure that it wouldn't be long if 'vaping police' tried charging someone that their human rights would have been breached, on top of that, what copper is going to charge someone who vapes?
they have more than enough problems as it is, unenforceable laws are the least of it!