Im on vacation overseas and people are giving me the evil eye

[IgnorantCig]

Im currently on vacation in a European country where it is illegal to sell ejuice containing nicotine.

I of course have my vape gear and my own ejuice with me, as that is not illegal.

The current anti-vape hysteria and fake news is not just contained to the US, as I have been reading about it and seeing it on the news here also.

With the way its being reported about in the news, youd think there was some huge epidemic happening, and vaping is the worst thing to come along since ebola or aids.

Ive gotten mutiple evil eyes from people here because I continue to vape like I always have, and I also make sure to blow extra super sized clouds whenever I encounter anybody who is giving me a disapproving look or stare, while I am smiling back at them and vaping.

As for the current fake news hysteria and propaganda, it is my understanding that the cases involve a substance that is not allowed to be mentioned on this forum.

I happen to know a lot about that substance and I also know that there is an awful lot of counterfeit and homemade carts which are on the market, and yes, some of them can definitely be dangerous, as all sorts of suspicious and dangerous ingredients can be included. Nobody has any idea what is inside those counterfeit carts

That however has nothing at all to do with vaping, or with people who vape and use regular ejuice.

If somebody drinks gasoline, then yeah, they might feel unwell.

As for me, Ill continue to laugh at fake news and the people who believe in it, and Ill continue to vape just like I always have.

 

[HigherStateD]

Truly a sad, sad display that the True epidemic of propaganda spreading faster than a fart in a tornado, and the only hope is for a one day retraction that gets little if any circulation.
Keep on keepin' on.

 

[Tabac man]

Which European country are you in???

 

[IgnorantCig]

Which European country are you in???

Ive been to a few different countries on my trip, but I am currently in Norway.

 

[HigherStateD]

Ive been to a few different countries on my trip, but I am currently in Norway.

Is the news/attitude in the other countries you've visited similar?

 

[IgnorantCig]

Is the news/attitude in the other countries you've visited similar?

I would say so.

It seems that in each country, including the US, there will be a certain portion of the population that will easily swallow and accept anything that they see coming out of the mainstream news, without any critical thinking, depending on the subject.

And vaping is an easy subject for people to be against, especially for people who dont vape and for people who dont know anything about it.

 

[bombastinator]

Different countries have different laws and different use patterns. They probably think you’re vaping something other than nicotine.

I say this because it happened to me in Spain in the 80’s. I was smoking roll your own tobacco I got in Sweden, but the locals all thought I was smoking “something else” because it was a roll-your-own. I even got warned.

 

[Cooperant]

Many European countries import part of their news from the USA so this should not surprise you.

Norway's e-cigarette ban might be lifted next year because the TPD is most likely becoming part of the EEA.

 

[Jebbn]

Are you sure its not your dress sense that are causing the "evil eyes" ?

Edit:
Sorry. Statement needs context. I left most of the thought out of the post.

When we were traveling around different parts of a particular part of the world a couple of people we were traveling in the same area with kept commenting how badly they got treated compared to us. They made comment about getting the "stink eye" and "hairy eyebrow" from the locals everywhere they went. They wouldnt take onboard that they could put more thought into their attire and presentation. They were oblivious to cultural sensitivities at the time.

Not saying the OP is in that sort of situation. Just the line "evil eyes" reminded me of an event from years ago.

 

[IgnorantCig]

Are you sure its not your dress sense that are causing the "evil eyes" ?

It’s not like I’m walking around wearing a maga cap or anything that would identify me as being American, but sure, I suppose it could be a combination of things, my vaping, my demeanor, maybe i talk too loud etc.

But it’s all good. I am who I am, and people can choose to take it or leave it. I will certainly never change to try and fit in someplace.

 

[englishmick]

Ive gotten mutiple evil eyes from people here because I continue to vape like I always have, and I also make sure to blow extra super sized clouds whenever I encounter anybody who is giving me a disapproving look or stare, while I am smiling back at them and vaping.

Maybe some of the dirty looks are from locals who are ...... because you can vape and they can't.

I know how I would feel if they banned it here but those bloody foreigners could bring their stuff over with them

 

[IgnorantCig]

Maybe some of the dirty looks are from locals who are ...... because you can vape and they can't.

I know how I would feel if they banned it here but those bloody foreigners could bring their stuff over with them

They can vape, there are stores that sell vape hardware, they just can’t purchase juice which contains nicotine.

If somebody is trying to quit cigs, i doubt that nic free juice will be of much help to them.

Some people who live all the way in the south of the country will actually drive to the nearest country which is Sweden, and buy the ejuice which contains nic there.

Those who live further north do not have that same option.

 

[DavidOck]

Curious... can they sell "nic shots" to spike it? I've heard that that's the procedure in some places now.

 

[stols001]

Ive gotten mutiple evil eyes from people here because I continue to vape like I always have, and I also make sure to blow extra super sized clouds whenever I encounter anybody who is giving me a disapproving look or stare, while I am smiling back at them and vaping.

Way to be an American. What is wrong with you. Way to go for vaping in general also.

It is not necessary to blow clouds at people who disapprove of vaping in a culture you do not know or understand.

But, you have your independence amirite?

Anna

 

[Cooperant]

That's the procedure for most of Europe where you can legally buy nicotine containing juice up to a maximum of 20mg/ml in packaging of up to 10ml.

There's quite a few websites advertising unhindered delivery of juice with nicotine to Norwegian buyers. I'm suspecting you can get your hands on it in local vape shops too, but not officially.

The vaping landscape in Europe is not very homogenous. Belgium for example is okay with vaping, also with nicotine, but not with online sales. Customs are strict and will only let through unrecognisable vaping products from outside the EU. The Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK - neighbouring countries - allow sales online (with varying degrees of age verification). Within the EU most parcels are shipped unchecked.

Many European vape shops will also carry one liter bottles of nicotine containing liquid if you know the owner. The production and b2b sale is not illegal.

Norway, Finland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are not part of the EU. Norway's vaping policy stems from their own law prohibiting the sale of new tobacco products since '89. It is however part of the EEA and EFTA Agreements. The current TPD, that allows the sale of vape products under certain rules, should apply to countries under these agreements since they concern the internal European market. The TPD's aim is to regulate this internal market for tobacco products

Europe is not a federation, so member states of the EU and the EEC EFTA Agreements have some to great liberty in implementing the TPD. That explains why it's ok for Sweden to sell snus but also why it is prohibited in the rest of the Union (although Sweden lobbied so hard that it has its own exceptions written right into the TPD, so small difference there). It also explains why Norway is still deciding on what their future stance on the e-cigarette matter will be.

 

[Cooperant]

Ah some interesting TPD facts:

- no more packs of cigarettes with less than 20 sticks in Europe
- no more indication of how much tar, nicotine and CO are in each stick to stop users from comparing and buying a healthier product
- no more naming and advertising cigarettes as 'light'
- no more naming and advertising cigarettes as 'more natural'
- 'This product contains nicotine' on every vape package

 

[bombastinator]

Ah some interesting TPD facts:

- no more packs of cigarettes with less than 20 sticks in Europe
- no more indication of how much tar, nicotine and CO are in each stick to stop users from comparing and buying a healthier product
- no more naming and advertising cigarettes as 'light'
- no more naming and advertising cigarettes as 'more natural'
- 'This product contains nicotine' on every vape package

So cigarette requirements are going down and e-cigarette requirements are going up. Smells of heavy lobbying.

 

[Cooperant]

So cigarette requirements are going down and e-cigarette requirements are going up. Smells of heavy lobbying.

Very heavy lobbying. But most of these requirements are deemed sensible by anti smoking groups too:

- no more "one night, one drag" five cigarette party packs for 2 euros
- no more "cutting down on toxins" with pink, save your throat, Marlboro's

The tobacco industry got a few jabs in against vaping, in return for giving up some of their most innocent and acceptable looking branding and flavouring. (They had just sunk millions in launching 'click' cigarettes that have a small capsule of flavoured liquid inside the filter that the user can break or click when desired. Very effective at masking the taste of tobacco and very expensive to develop. Now you can only sell regular and the old fashioned menthols with the flavouring right in the tobacco.)

 

[IgnorantCig]

Way to be an American. What is wrong with you. Way to go for vaping in general also.

It is not necessary to blow clouds at people who disapprove of vaping in a culture you do not know or understand.

But, you have your independence amirite?

Anna

I dont blow the clouds at the people, i blow them in the air in front of me like I usually do. Im not targeting anybody with my clouds and the people are not close enough by me to be affected by them.

I simply counter the ignorance and rudeness of certain people with my super sized clouds.

It is their perrogative to better educate themselves and adapt to a polite person such as myself, who is merely walking around and minding their own business.

And yes, I do value my independence of course.

 

[bombastinator]

Very heavy lobbying. But most of these requirements are deemed sensible by anti smoking groups too:

- no more "one night, one drag" five cigarette party packs for 2 euros
- no more "cutting down on toxins" with pink, save your throat, Marlboro's

The tobacco industry got a few jabs in against vaping, in return for giving up some of their most innocent and acceptable looking branding and flavouring. (They had just sunk millions in launching 'click' cigarettes that have a small capsule of flavoured liquid inside the filter that the user can break or click when desired. Very effective at masking the taste of tobacco and very expensive to develop. Now you can only sell regular and the old fashioned menthols with the flavouring right in the tobacco.)

One of the things US cigarette companies have apparently started doing is lobbying anticigarette company’s as well though their connections with medical companies that sell patches. They want to kill e-cigarettes. They claim it’s just any e-cigarette that they don’t sell, but e-cigarettes remains disposable market for them. They’re fine if the whole thing dies. They want to sell cigarettes.