Public Health England is urging businesses to provide vaping rooms so vapers won't have to stand outside with the smokers and their nasty little cancer sticks.

Personally I've no problem with vaping rooms. Like smoking rooms (outlawed) this should be a matter for individual businesses.

What's more interesting is that PHE is also suggesting that workers who vape should be allowed additional breaks to top up their nicotine levels:

Vaping provides a generally lower blood nicotine level and takes longer to reach a desired level, requiring frequent interim top-ups,” PHE said in the guidelines for employers. “This difference should be taken into account, particularly when developing policies for workplaces.”

Yesterday the Scottish Sun invited Forest to respond. They also contacted vaping advocate Linda Bauld (currently on holiday in Canada) possibly because they thought we would take opposite positions - Linda in favour, Forest against (on account of it being 'unfair' to smokers who have to go outside).

I explained that our position on vaping at work is exactly the same as our attitude to smoking. Ultimately it should be a matter for the employer.

I did however query whether fellow workers would appreciate vapers being given extra breaks.

We were close to deadline so after a quick chat I sent the following response:

"Not all smokers wish to quit and their right to smoke outside during legitimate work breaks must be respected.

"But if employers want to encourage employees to quit smoking it makes sense to provide rooms where they can vape in comfort without having to stand outside with the smokers.

"Non-smokers might draw the line at allowing vapers additional breaks but in many ways it's no different to allowing people to have additional coffee breaks.

"What matters to any business is how effective you are as an employee. If you produce your best work by being allowed to smoke, vape or consume caffeine at regular intervals that's a matter for you and your employer.

"E-cigarettes are arguably the best smoking cessation tool ever invented because they mimic the act of smoking in a way that no other stop smoking aid can match.

"Ultimately, though, this is a matter for individual employers who must be allowed to devise a policy on vaping that best suits their business and the interests of all members of staff."

I don't expect them to use more than one or two sentences but it's an issue that I'm sure will run and run.

In the meantime it's worth noting - again - how public health groups are progressively taking control of vaping behaviour to the extent that they are now issuing 'guidelines' to employers.

There are some, I'm sure, who will welcome such initiatives as evidence of a more liberal approach by public health towards nicotine.

Perhaps it is.

What shouldn't be forgotten however is that these guidelines are simply the latest stage in a hugely illiberal tobacco control strategy designed to force adults to quit smoking.

As readers know (because I've repeated it often enough), Forest embraces e-cigarettes and other harm reduction products because we believe in choice, but a truly liberal society is one that accommodates those who want to smoke whilst educating consumers about the relative risks of using e-cigarettes, combustibles etc without hyperbole or scaremongering.

Btw, I notice that PHE isn't liberal enough to suggest that people might be allowed to vape at their desk or in any other communal area. Oh no, there has to be a separate vaping room with vapers "permitted " additional breaks.

Guidelines, regulations, legislation. However you look at it, they really are control freaks.