Electronic cigarettes undoubtedly are designed as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. But when it comes to valuing the alternative as good or bad, opinions take different directions. The following arguments present the second kind of opinions defending a position against the usage of e-cigarettes.
The first disadvantage of turning entirely to them is that they’re sometimes marketed as a smoking quit solution. Perhaps that impression comes from the numerous studies showing that e-cigarettes are less harmless than tobacco ones and still continue to maintain the smoking habit with its little rituals. But the enemies of e-cigarettes point out that exactly the fact the device is designed in such a way helps nourishing the main problem – addiction. It does it even in a greater extend, because if your smoker’s consciousness could be convinced that smoking e-cigarettes does not harm so much the lungs, does not impede people around you with second-hand smoke and does not exclude you from a mixed society of smokers and non-smokers, it would leave you smoke forever and ever. Smokers also share that e-cigarettes are not just providing the body with the necessary dose of nicotine. They need the odor and taste that are also part of the habit. As e-cigarettes are depriving the smoker from those elements accompanying his behavior, they are no alternative for smoking tobacco.

Another concern is that a lot of national governments have declared against the dissemination of the device in their countries. They rest on the proclamation of the World Health Organization that does not legitimate e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aid.
Some countries still have hesitations on permitting the free manufacturing and trading of those devices. For example in Australia the sale of e-cigarettes is illegal, in Austria and Denmark they are declared publically as medical devices and need medical license to be sold. In the Netherlands the use of e-cigarettes is permitted, but cannot be advertised, etc.

E-cigarettes are not cheapas promoted in some advertisements too. The initial investment is averagely 100 $, but there are parts of the device that need replacement or refilling – batteries, atomizers.
Another objection to e-cigarettes usage is that their safety is not proven clinically yet. They represent a simple substitute to real cigarettes, but are far away from being harmless. The quantities of nicotine they contain may be even higher than in some ordinary cigarettes.
The defenders of e-cigarettes usually oppose with the argument that some companies – being it the tobacco cartels, the companies producing products like creams for smokers, chewing gums for smoking cessation, etc. are funding the anti-e-cigarettes campaign, because they will naturally go bankrupt if most smokers turn to this kind of consummation.
Maybe the reason for this variety of opinions is that the invention is relatively new. Mankind has been smoking tobacco for millenniums and now e-cigarettes are being perceived as a threat for the end of this ancient habit. It may sound stupid, but heavy smokers can rely even on logic like this.
Whatever fears, pros and cons of the e-cigarettes might be pointed out, one thing is for sure – electronic cigarettes are on the market – harmful or not, legal or not, and we are still to observe what will be their impact on smokers.