Electronic cigarettes

Invented in Asia about a decade ago, the electronic cigarette has taken off among smokers, many of whom see it as a cheaper alternative to tobacco and a good way of giving up. In August the World Health Organisation said governments should ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, warning that they pose a "serious threat" to foetuses and youths. Some health experts have described the warning as "exaggerated" however and fear clamping down on the electronic devices underplays their role as a safer option than tobacco. VIDEOGRAPHIC