LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council earlier this week approved new regulations that would treat e-cigarettes like tobacco cigarettes, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 14-0 vote bans vaping in most work places and many public places, including parks and some beaches.

Lawmakers voted to continue allowing e-cigarette use in dedicated vaping lounges, but they banned them from 21-and-over establishments.

The votes came after the presentation of strong views from both sides of the e-cigarette debate. Proponents argued that the electronic devices help wean people from smoking tobacco cigarettes and that research has not proven them to be harmful to others via second-hand emissions. Opponents said they threaten to make smoking socially acceptable after years of trying to get people to kick the habit.

"We don't want to risk e-cigarettes undermining a half-century of successful tobacco control," said Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.