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Firstly, not all types of e-cigs (and there are many) look like traditional cigarettes or have an end that glows when in use.

The e-cig is not covered by the UK smoking ban. It does not contain tobacco; it is not "lit" (no flame to ignite) and it does not produce smoke. In fact it is not referred to as smoking but "vaping".

The liquid used in an e-cig is a propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine base to which is added food flavourings and if required liquid nicotine - not all users of e-cigs actually use a liquid with nicotine in it.

When the liquid is drawn over a heated coil in the e-cig, it simply put, boils and turns to a steam vapour (think water, kettle and steam) that the user inhales. There is no tar, carbon monoxide or other nasties that are in the traditional cigarette and there is no passive smoking.

It is the tobacco and other additives in traditional cigarettes that cause the problems for both smokers and passive smokers. Nicotine in itself is not a known carcinogen and in fact is found naturally in many vegetables and as I understand it is currently undergoing trials for medical application in the fight against obesity.

Naturally, employers can make their own policies about whether to allow the use of e-cigs in the workplace but bear in mind that if employees can vape at their workplace you don't have the issue of unproductivity that smoking breaks cause, nor the annoyance/bickering by some non-smokers that their smoking colleagues are being paid to smoke not work.

Why not do some research and talk to your employees that vape to find out more about vaping and the use of e-cigs (there are a number of UK based vaping forums) and then discuss with all employees what policy they want?

We do currently allow the use of e-cigs in our workplaces and although this is a new policy decision, it is working well, there have been no complaints by employees (smokers or non-smokers) who do not vape, in fact many of them are extremely interested and keen to learn more about it and the smokers who vape are to be found at their desks and working far more often than they were before. It also means there isn't the untidy/unsightly huddle of smokers outside the work-premises.