The UK notoriously has some of the strictest smoking laws in the world, with smoking banned in all indoor public areas and enclosed outdoor areas. The only place you can really spark up a cigarette with impunity is in your residence or an open, outdoor area.
At the same time, the United Kingdom government is quite enthusiastic on getting smokers to switch to vaping.
This situation is based entirely on the outcome of scientific studies that have determined that, while vaping is at least 95 percent safer than smoking, smoking has probably led to the deaths of more people in the UK than the coronavirus pandemic, according to chief medical officer Prof. Chris Whitty.
I could find no better illustration of the UK's attitude toward smoking than to vaping than to point out that if a UK prisoner is found smoking in his cell, his sentence will likely be lengthened -- while it's permitted for prisoners to vape in their cells!
I'm lucky in that I work at a vape shop and get to vape all day, throughout my shift. But what I've found is that the UK medical community and others think it would be a good idea to make it easier for British employees to vape while on the job, including vaping indoors!
And the reasons even go beyond the health of employees. Let's dive in ...
Vaping is healthier - for profits
Healthy employees don't phone in sick as often and are more productive while on the job. So employers can benefit from making it easier for the smokers on their payroll to switch to vaping.
The NHS even urges employers to consider designating indoor spaces for employees to vape. The logic is sound:
If you have to go out into the cold or rain to have a cigarette, but you can stay indoors and vape in comfort, that's a strong incentive to give up smoking in favour of vaping.
The NHS is also basing this position on the conclusion of multiple studies that have shown that, while second-hand smoke can be a major health risk even to non-smoking bystanders, second-hand e-cigarette vapour poses no health hazards to bystanders.
And the weirdest reason to allow vaping at work
Whenever someone sets rules, someone else will break them. And it turns out that people breaking smoking rules are responsible for one of the biggest threats to a business in the UK or anywhere else ...
FIRE!
That's right -- "secret smokers" who sneak off for a cheeky puff have been responsible for a lot of fire damage -- and fire fatalities, according to none other than the London Fire Brigade.
The LFB's recommendation is something you should be able to see coming, at this point -- they recommend switching to vaping.
Provided, of course, that you store and charge e-cig batteries correctly and safely.
Stephen “Tex” English: tex@thejuicewarehouse.co.uk; Insta: @tex_vapes
