62 Percent Think E-Cigarette Use in Public Should be Allowed Despite Expected FDA Regulations

Time magazine
says, “Regulations of electronic cigarettes are expected to be
a top priority for states and cities in 2014.” Indeed, many
districts have placed or are considering placing bans on the
tobacco-free nicotine delivery devices and the Food and Drug
Administration plans this month to issue guidelines regulating
e-cigarettes as a tobacco product. But Americans don’t want the
government interfering with people’s ability to use
e-cigarettes.

The
new Reason-Rupe poll finds that 62 percent of Americans think
the government should allow people to use tobacco-free electronic
cigarettes in public places while 34 percent say the government
should prohibit this activity.

Non-partisan independents (66 percent) and independents who lean
Republican (68 percent) are more likely than Democrats (58 percent)
to think government should allow people to use e-cigarettes in
public places. Nevertheless, majorities of all political groups
think electronic cigarettes should be allowed, including 63 percent
of Republicans and 61 percent of Independents who lean
Democratic.

Self-identified libertarians are 22 points more likely than
self-identified liberals to say the government should allow this
activity (77 percent to 55 percent).

Older Americans are much more opposed than younger Americans to
e-cigarette use in public.  Forty-two percent of people ages
55 and over favor a government ban on the public use of
e-cigarettes while just 29 percent of Americans under age 35
agree.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted Dec 4-8 2013 interviewed
1011 adults on both mobile (506) and landline (505) phones, with a
margin of error +/- 3.7%. Princeton Survey Research Associates
International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe survey. Columns
may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Full poll results,
detailed tables, and methodology found here. Sign
up for notifications of new releases of the Reason-Rupe
poll here.