Opinion: Rites of summer highlight the rights of individuals
Montreal's summer patio culture permits drinking but bans vaping, despite evidence that vaping poses significantly less risk than tobacco.Summary
As Montreal's patios open for the season, the author argues that regulators unfairly ban vaping in these spaces while tolerating the externalities of alcohol consumption and vehicle exhaust. Ian Irvine, an economics professor, notes that the Royal College of Physicians and other health bodies have established that vaping involves at most five percent of the risk of combustible cigarettes. He contends that the volume of ambient vapour is about 15 percent of cigarette smoke, and sitting next to a vaper is likely only one percent as dangerous as sitting next to a smoker. Irvine suggests that tavern owners should be free to designate specific evenings for outdoor vaping, similar to Taco Tuesdays, as the dangers of vaping are minimal compared to other summer activities.
(Source：Financial Post)
