Government Plan to Ban E-Cigarettes on Airplanes Opposed by Public Interest Groups

Washington, DC, November 15, 2011 – The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association [2] and the Competitive Enterprise Institute together filed comment to the Department of Transportation opposing the agency's planned ban on e-cigarettes on airlines.

DOT claims authority to ban e-cigarettes from commercial airline flights, based on a federal law banning smoking on flights and on alleged harm posed by e-cigarette vapor.  However, e-cigarettes do not emit smoke, they do not produce ash, and they involve no burning of tobacco or any other substance.  And there is no research indicating that e-cigarette vapor is harmful to users or bystanders.

“As familiarity with e-cigarettes grows, we're already seeing some local legislators rejecting proposed bans on them,” said Elaine D. Keller, President of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association.  “We hope DOT catches on soon."

“DOT’s claim, that using e-cigs is a form of smoking, shows you how far this agency will go to expand its jurisdiction,” said Sam Kazman [3], CEI General Counsel.  “Its arguments are as thin as the stratosphere through which planes fly.”

CASAA is a non-profit organization of approximately 2,000 grassroots members that works to ensure the availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking and to provide truthful information about such alternatives.

CEI is a non-profit organization that focuses on regulatory issues, especially on raising public understanding of the often-hidden costs of overregulation.

► View the public comment to DOT [4].