Further to yesterday's post, reader Mark Butcher comments:

You may be interested in this. A month or so ago, the e-cigarette maker Go-Lites issued a press release regarding lost time with smoking breaks.

I sent an email to them registering my objection to them jumping on the anti-smoking bandwagon. This is what I sent:

Hi,

I've just read your press release regarding lost time through smoking breaks.

As a heavy e-cig user and now occasional normal smoker, I am very concerned that Go Lites has turned on smokers.

I can assure you that I will make sure never to use your products - and I am sharing your press release and my views with my vaping friends.

Go-Lites responded as follows:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your reply. I assure you that was never the intention from me or anyone at Go-Lites – we never intended to cause any bad feeling in the smoking or vaping community. The piece you’re referring to is simply trying to alert smokers and employers to a potential alternative to smoking, which I’m sure you’ll agree as an e-cig user yourself, has plenty of benefits.

The team at Go-Lites are not anti-smoking, and alienating the community of smokers is not something that was ever aimed for. I am currently coordinating with Go-Lites to ensure that all future releases are better thought out, and will focus on uniting vapers and smokers rather than isolating one of the two.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any more views you’d like to air.

I am so pleased to read Mark's comment.

As it happens he wasn't the only potential customer offended by their email. See The second front against smokers (Oh What Now!).

Mind you, I'm equally impressed by Go-Lites' response. Actions have to speak louder than words, of course, but hats off to them for taking Mark's complaint seriously.

If vapers were to write to Vapestick – which wants employers to ban smoking breaks – that company might reassess its marketing as well.

After all, knowing what you now know, and given a choice between Go-Lites and Vapestick, which brand would you choose?

Update: Founder of Vapestick responds in the comments ...