Canvassing Local Establishments

[SalientOrange]

The handfull of bars that I have patronized (since I began vaping over a month ago) have all allowed me to vape openly. Generally I will walk in, order a drink, chat with the bartender and then ask, "What is your policy regarding electronic cigarettes?". I have heard "We're for 'em.", "Knock yourself out.", "We have no policy, and that's the best kind." I have yet to be told that I can't vape in a bar.

I had the notion that maybe I could do a more formal canvass of bars in the Houston Area. If I could visit 50 bars with information about electronic cigarettes, discuss them with management, solicit opinions, etc. I could then begin compiling, and publish a list of vape-friendly establishments. I even had the thought that a bar owner, if he/she so chooses, can institute a formal PRO-vaping policy...even post signage to that effect.

Has anyone here undertaken a project like this? I would love any advice or opinions on the matter that will help me shape plan of action.
It's not my style to tip-toe around waiting for the government to ban e-cigs. If they want to, they will...without all the facts, without regard for their constituents. What I can do, is put myself and my growing number of friends out into the bars to find out where we have support.

 

[Shortstuff116]

I think it's a good idea. The only thing that would be important (to me) is that the person doing this would do so in the right way, with the utmost courtesy and respect and have all the facts and figures that owners/managers may ask. Any misinformation passed on could have a potentially serious adverse effect on the advancement of e-cigs in the publics eye.

 

[tristessa363]

What bars have you asked? I've only asked Lola's (dive in Montrose) and was told no because it could be possibly perceived as smoking. This caused me to be too embarrassed to ask at Rudz (I kind of feel like a nerd...). I would definitely be interested in knowing who is vaping-friendly in Houston.

 

[SalientOrange]

I think it's a good idea. The only thing that would be important (to me) is that the person doing this would do so in the right way, with the utmost courtesy and respect and have all the facts and figures that owners/managers may ask. Any misinformation passed on could have a potentially serious adverse effect on the advancement of e-cigs in the publics eye.

I completely agree. Accuracy of information and courteous interaction are vital with both owners/staff and patrons. I need to put together a clean, one page "fact & info sheet" to leave with the bar owners I speak with. I could even buy a handfull of cheap battys and attys from Tasty Vapor, in case I want to leave an e-cig behind with an "influential" smoker.

What bars have you asked? I've only asked Lola's (dive in Montrose) and was told no because it could be possibly perceived as smoking. This caused me to be too embarrassed to ask at Rudz (I kind of feel like a nerd...). I would definitely be interested in knowing who is vaping-friendly in Houston.

Hey dude. It's Kameron. I could just tell you in person when you get to work. Instead I'll make a short list.

So far I have been cleared to vape openly at:

Mezzanine Lounge (Manager)

Beavers (Bartender)
Here I vaped only at the bar area.

Firkin & Phoenix (Manager)
Here I vaped both at the bar, and at a table.

Agora (Cashier?)

La Carafe (Bartender)

Reserve 101 (Manager)

Macondo Bistro (Manager/Owner?)

NOTE: While I have been explicitly told that I'm allowed to vape at the above places, I have no idea if any of them have a formal PRO-VAPING policy. Please exercise common courtesy when vaping in public

My girlfriend also vapes (and drinks) and may have been cleared to vape at additional locations in Houston. I will ask today and edit this list if necessary.

Note: I have also vaped at Brasil on the non-smoking outdoor patio, but did so without thinking. A staff member promptly told me "There's no smoking out here", at which point I explained to him what I was doing. By the end of the conversation he allowed me to vape and I was writing down links and recommendations. I have not asked if I'm allowed to vape INSIDE Brasil. To be honest I never sit inside anyway.

 

[tristessa363]

I went to Cecil's today and asked the bartender if they have a policy on electronic cigarettes. He was actually kind of rude about it - he gave me a mean look and said very flatly, "no cigarette smoking inside"... I asked, "even if it's not a real cigarette?" And he turned and walked away, muttering something in an irritated tone... Granted, the more I watched him interact with others... that may just be his normal expression. But every time I get a negative response it makes me more uncomfortable asking another place, because I don't want to repeat the experience. Maybe it's my delivery... i am not the most charismatic/confident/convincing of people. my friend told me that the next time she went up to the bar he said he thought that it was probably not in violation of the ordinance, but basically he just wanted to cover his ... (which i completely understand). I just wished that he would have expressed it to me this way instead of scowling and muttering...

 

[mrjaguar]

there's a irish pub here in westlake village that didn't allow vaping at all, so I got a table out on the patio for my dinner. first time I've been told no vaping.

 

[Lusak]

I found this from a while back...

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...79187-question-posed-local-establishment.html

I still feel it would be an awesome idea if the form letters did pick up, and we could begin to see "Vaping Welcome" stickers beneath "No Smoking" signs on the doors. Dream world, I know.

 

[ronab]

Just wanted to share an experience my hub and I had last night at the Olive Garden Restaurant in Warrensville Heights, OH. We were waiting for our server to greet us, so we whipped out our e-cigs as we have done in many restaurants throughout Cols and Cleve., when the manager of the restaurant came over and told us in a rather nasty way that their company policy is to not permit e-cigarettes in their establishment. End of story, put away your e-cigs now. We couldn't believe this was true, so this morning my husband called Olive Garden HQ. We found that they have established a policy for ALL restaurants nationwide that they will not permit the use of e-cigs in their establishment. Personally, I have eliminiated them from my list of potential restaurants I will visit. This is the FIRST restaurant(and trust me we eat out alot as I don't cook real well)we have had this experience with.

 

[Tober138]

Just wanted to share an experience my hub and I had last night at the Olive Garden Restaurant in Warrensville Heights, OH. We were waiting for our server to greet us, so we whipped out our e-cigs as we have done in many restaurants throughout Cols and Cleve., when the manager of the restaurant came over and told us in a rather nasty way that their company policy is to not permit e-cigarettes in their establishment. End of story, put away your e-cigs now. We couldn't believe this was true, so this morning my husband called Olive Garden HQ. We found that they have established a policy for ALL restaurants nationwide that they will not permit the use of e-cigs in their establishment. Personally, I have eliminiated them from my list of potential restaurants I will visit. This is the FIRST restaurant(and trust me we eat out alot as I don't cook real well)we have had this experience with.

Well they can make their own policies as they see fit. I would expect that some places (especially larger chains, like Red Robin as mentioned in another thread) may very well enforce a full-scale, no-vaping policy. Likely for one or more of several reasons:
- Some of these chains were smoke-free of their own accord, even without a formal, legal smoking ban. So they have extended that to any type of "smoking".
- To many people, vaping does look like actual smoking. This could result in an analog smoker seeing a vaper and then lighting up their own analog, so then the staff has to deal with the smoker.
- Along the same lines, I am sure some people would get freaked out seeing someone vaping, think that they were smoking, and then complain to the vaper and/or the manager. The people running the restaurant are busy enough - by simply banning vaping then they don't have to deal with this issue in the first place.
- People in the States are pretty darn sue-happy as it is. Say in 5, 10, 20 years from now something comes out simply suggesting being around vapers can cause some kind of damage. People could start suing these places. Heck, someone might simply hire an ambulance chaser and file a lawsuit anyways against a big restaurant chain, claiming they were harmed by exposure to "e-cigarette smoke".

Vaping is not terribly common, so anyone affected by a no-vaping policy is going to be in a minority of patrons. So I can see a lot of places, especially the larger, corporate-owned chains, just putting such a policy in place so it is one less hassle to deal with at both the location and corporate levels. As vaping becomes more common, my guess is that, given a free choice, the big chains will most likely be the ones to ban it and it will be more of the local chains or individually owned places that may make a decision to allow it.

And on another note, the food at Olive Garden sucks anyways so, no big loss.