Australia's Possible Nationwide Smoking Ban Will Be World's First

Australia may be the first country in the world to outlaw smoking if electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are proven to be safe and effective.

It is common knowledge that smoking is dangerous to health not only for the smoker but also for the people around. Australia is considering a ban on smoking to prohibit people from using "cancer sticks" which only endanger public health and safety. However, the Australian government will give smokers the option of using e-cigarettes to ease them into quitting the risky habit.

The move to make cigarettes illegal in Australia has been going on for years as health experts and lobbyists urge the government to implement a smoking ban.

E-cigarettes may just be a viable permanent alternative for Australian smokers since they contain a liquid form of nicotine which is then heated to produce vapor. The smoker will inhale and expel the vapor, mimicking the action of smoking cigarettes.

E-cigarettes offer the same addictive chemical found in regular cigarettes except for the tar and other chemicals harmful to health. It has not been medically proven that e-cigarettes are safer than normal cigarettes but current research funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council is ongoing to determine the truth. The research was erroneously reported as funded by the federal government in a media report.

If electronic cigarettes are found to be safer, Australia may push through with the smoking ban. Other methods believed to help people quit smoking such as lozenges, patches and hypnotherapy had no effect on smokers.

Others who have tried e-cigarettes observed a change in their smoking habits. However, e-cigarettes might not work as well on others since every experience will be different. The e-cigarette can also be expensive since it has many options for luxury accessories that smokers will love.

In the absence of a government-funded research, Australian smokers might not be able to make informed decisions on the benefits and proper usage of e-cigarettes.