One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don't drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.


But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that — for reasons that aren't entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers. (See pictures of booze under a microscope.)

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. – An electronic cigarette maker is thriving after picking up his business in 2009 and moving to Middle Tennessee.

Steven McVey owns Pure Smoker. He moved from Los Angeles to Goodlettsville to help the business grown.

Much of the work is done inside his own home.

"We have an atomizer, and the atomizer is like a mini fog machine," McVey said. "It's a coil, all you do is drip liquid nicotine on there and vape it.'

The liquids come in flavors and instead of smoke, users blow out water vapor.
McVey's business is new but already in jeopardy.

In September, a federal court could decide the fate of all e-cigarette manufacturers.

"It comes down to the definition," McVey said. "The FDA [wants] it to be called a drug delivery device, in which case it will likely be banned. If that ban takes place, we will no longer be in business."

E-cigarette manufacturers, like McVey, said the products are tobacco alternatives and should be regulated by the FDA.

"One puff of an e-cigarette is equivalent to about one tenth of a puff of a real cigarette," McVey said.
Read more about McVey's business at PureSmoker.com.