Ukrainian Smokers Quit Smoking, Indoor Smoking Ban

More Ukrainians are giving up the highly damaging smoking habit as legislation toughens bans on advertising, smoking in public places and introduces disturbing graphic warnings on cigarette packs. As of Dec. 16, smoking indoors will be illegal as a new law signed by President Viktor Yanukovych in June comes into effect. It prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, governmental buildings, sport arenas and cultural premises. Hookah pipes and electronic cigarettes also fall under the ban.

New Anoka Store Sells Only E-Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes didn't seem to catch on after their Twin Cities debut two years ago. But an Anoka man is betting they will now, thanks to improved technology and falling prices. Steven Ryan opened the eCigs Shop in Anoka last month. The store specializes in and only sells electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are tobacco-free. They don't emit an offensive odor and according to Ryan cost about one-tenth the price of the real thing. Ryan first tried electronic cigarettes because after trying everything from acupuncture to the nicotine patch to stop smoking, he was still a two-packs-a-day smoker. Ryan said, "This is for those people who have tried everything and they are basically stuck on cigarettes." Newer devices come in a variety of shapes and styles. Some look like cigarettes, some like cigars, some even resemble cell phones. They are customizable, unlike Ryan says, the versions that first hit the Twin Cities a couple years ago.