Ban Electronic Cigarettes Until Safety Concerns are Addressed, say Researchers

I wonder how much it cost the tobacco companies to have these conclusions drawn...

The first thing that came to mind was "Ban the coffee because the cup doesn't say "caution hot"...

You're right, as far as I can tell, they aren't talking safety issues at all - it's almost entirely a gripe about quality control involving mechanical and labelling issues - and mismanaged retail that ships out random dosages (a completely self-defeating business practice, obviously, with no concept at all that addiction is a "repeat business" for the satisfied customer, hello!).

But afaict, it's the drug companies which sell smoking cessation aids that are motivated to campaign against this alternative. For tobacco companies, it's a product that would allow smokers to maintain their addiction openly in places where smoking itself is banned. Whereas the pharma companies are heavily invested in campaigns to "de-normalize" smoking and socially ostracize and even pathologize anyone who doesn't quit or should I say, pretend to have quit.

I can't help but wonder how many "former" smokers have actually become permanent-periodic users of stop smoking aids. There seem to be a huge number of people who insist they "don't smoke" but who can be found puffing on the back step or patio because "it's the weekend"...