It’s almost like a USA tour and this week we arrive in Ashland where its Board of Healthapproved new regulations this Tuesday (October 14) against e-cigarettes.The Board voted to restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and the use of the product in anyarea where smoking is prohibited. The regulations come into effect on January 1stFlavored e-cigarettes are of course a favourite hobby horse for those opposed to thegrowing e-cigarette industry. Under the new regulations flavored e-cigarettes can only besold in smoking bars or retail tobacco stores. Now the latter venue is an interesting onebecause it’s defined as a store that can sell tobacco and nicotine products but doesn’t sellfood or admit any customers under the age of 21.Ashland (a name more suitable for tobacco cigarettes than e-cigarettes) doesn’t actuallyhave any retail tobacco stores so another waste of legislation there then. With such lawsbeing passed it’s hardly an incentive for anyone to suddenly decide to open a retail tobaccostore in the area so that’s another kick in the teeth for the industry.The vote came after a public hearing was held last month at which advocates for e- cigarettes were able to make their views known . These included Karen Casey from theConsumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association. Their work is to find lessharmful alternatives for smokers and she believes that e-cigarettes should be available as aviable option for any adults trying their best to give up smoking.Time for some comments from Karen that all opponents of e-cigarettes should read andlearn from. She says: “This product has the potential to help more adults quit smoking morethan any other product on the market right now.” Carey should know that because she’dbeen smoking for over 30 years and gave up after turning to e-cigarettes.Those are some great words of support from Karen who by the ways works for a non-profitassociation. Yet still the opponents of e-cigarettes step up their bid to make life very difficultfor the industry.When it came to the subject of flavored e-cigarettes the Board of Health went down theusual route saying that they are often marketed to young people. This despite the fact thee-cigarette industry doesn’t sell its products to under-18s.Don’t they read the comments of people like e-cigarette shop owner Phillip Lish? He says:“We don’t cater to youth. I have children of my own, and I sure as heck wouldn’t be pushingit on them.”So we have yet another group of officials who decide to forget the fact that e-cigarettes canhelp people quit smoking and is a far healthier alternative. Instead they just want to spendtheir time passing laws that will make it more difficult for the industry to flourish even thoughthe evidence of their usefulness is clearly there to be seen.