Vaping in public/at work?

[Shugaphix]

Hi all-

Vegas is a pretty smoke-friendly town, but they have passed new laws like most other states where you cannot smoke in public common areas (lobbys, restaurants, stores, in malls, etc)

Have you had problems with vaping in grocery stores or other "smoke-free" establishments? If so, did they change their story after you explained to them that you are NOT smoking but vaping?

What about at work? Do you openly vape or do you go outside like smokers? Or other?

I'm wondering how to approach the situation. In restaurants, we usually ask the hostess or waitress if they allow it. Usually no one has an issue.

The other day I was vaping (purely out of habit) while strolling through the grocery store. I got a few strange looks, but no one said anything.

Any one have any horror stories or lessons learned?

Thanks! happy vaping!
-Gabi

 

[leftfeild]

I live in the sticks in Scotland and back when I used Egos I had the police stop me when I was using it just walking down the street on the way to work. They wouldn't let me go for over half an hour just asking constantly if I do or sell drugs. If I explain within a minute that it's an ecig, show it's battery operated heating some liquid that smells like whatever flavour I had in that day, it's stupid to hold me so long for that. They were literally trying to intimidate me into confessing that I was some kind of drug lord which was idiotic.

I wasn't impressed and it put me off vaping in public because it was the first time I'd done it with one that didn't look like a real cig. So for now at least, my mods stay in my pocket while I'm outside.

I don't like the police much either

 

[ravenlily]

ive had no problem vaping anywhere ( i live in minneapolis, mn) except in one dive bar i frequent. old bartender i rarely see told me they banned it last week. lol. im actually happy that this week im upgrading from my joye 510 and nobody will see my glowing light. its like moths to a flame. i do have a vape friendly cards that a few vendors have sent me since then that set people straight. thanks vendors for sending those out.

 

[Huffelpuff]

I take my very pocketable Reo Mini for outings and am discreet when I vape. Noone really notices as long as I moderate the exhaled vapor. I vape (carefully) at the movies, in the food store - anywhere really. Some local shopping malls have kiosks for ecigs now so I vape openly in those (cause I can).

 

[Kay1959]

I normally ask before vaping in places, and no one's had any problems with it (readily giving permission) About the only place I haven't asked permission is the grocery store or WalMart, cause I really have no idea who I would ask...but I've never had any problems.

 

[SammyGirl]

New to ECF, but a regular on my local (Aussie) forum... I have had a great deal of trouble vaping at uni here. I think it is just the lecturer that I have though, he is a bit 'anti' anything! I do sneak a bit of stealth tactics in though were I can!

 

[DaveP]

I vape in the Grocery store and Walmart and most retail stores. I vape in restaurants after I'm through eating. There are few places I won't take a stealth hit here and there.

As long as you don't make it obvious and blow plumes of vapor, few people will notice. I contain the sidestream vapor. The ones who do look usually don't know what you are doing. I've had a few people look and try to figure out what my PV is, but they don't seem offended, just curious.

 

[cj904]

I vape pretty much where ever I go. No one has said anything other than ask what it is I tell them and they end up wondering if it can help them stop. Where I work the policy states anything that is perceived as smoking is prohibited indoors, so all the vapers go outside and take breaks hey that's fine with me. If they don't want to keep me inside all day even better.

 

[MickeyRat]

I've literally never had a problem vaping in public or at work and I vaped everywhere I went in Vegas a few weeks ago. I do think that if you do vape in public, it's not a good idea to try to be sneaky and it's not a good idea to use anything that resembles a cigarette. If anyone ever objected, I'd stop but, that's never happened. Other than the occasional look, the only reactions have been curiousity or something like, "That's so cool!!!"

Since it's easy, I usually do ask in restaurants. In a large impersonal place like Wal-Mart, I usually don't. Either way it's never been a problem.

 

[Doug Bown]

Hey I've been told that the government is passing laws now that is stopping the whole vaping in public thing. Is that true? And if so.. um WHY?!?!?! Ya think the cig companies are behind this at all? Grrr.. is making me so mad I can't stand it. I will always vape in public and I don't care what others say, I will just do the stealth vape thing.

Happy Stealth Vaping everyone! =)

 

[ctourtelot]

I vape pretty much anywhere and have done so for 3 years with no issues except once. I was working a film job and got stuck alone everyday in the production office which was in a hotel room. I was vaping butterscotch in there and the other crew members complained about the smell when they'd come back from location and asked me not to do it in the room so I started going to the stairwell.

What peeved me is that they were all smokers and when they came back to the room, it would smell like an ashtray for 30 min, but they were offended by the smell of maple syrup. Go figure.

Now when I say I vape anywhere, I don't blow plumes of vapor everywhere. When I'm somewhere that smoking is allowed or where vaping is familiar, I'll vape normally. If I'm at the movies or in the grocery store, I still vape, but I don't hide my PV in any way or act as if I'm sneaking something. However, in those situations, I do minimize or hold in the vapor.

I've gotten some strange looks at Walmart because I'll be headed towards the door and take a puff with no vapor and then walk outside, take another puff and fog up the parking lot.

 

[NGIB]

At work I generally go outside as I like hanging out with my smoking friends and chatting. Their cigarettes smell awful to me and this has been positive reinforcement. I'll vape in the office sometimes when I'm really busy and can't take a real break. I carry an eGo 650 mah when I'm out and about so it's small size doesn't draw much attention but I really don't try to hide it. Generally, I try to mind my own business and be respectful of others - just as I did when I smoked...

 

[YoureFired]

I've noticed when I inhale deeper, there's a lot less (if any) visible vapor exhaled. I think that's what bothers people most.. not so much you putting the device to your lips and inhaling, but seeing the vapor released into the air. It's like a subconscious thing, where your vapor invades their personal air space.

 

[DaveP]

I'm finding many more uses for PG. I had my eyes examined for new glasses. During the exam, the doctor mentioned that my eyes were a little on the dry side. He gave me a couple of sample bottles of an eye drop that lubricates and soothes eyes.

Guess what the active ingredients were? Propylene Glycol .3% and Polyethylene Glycol .4%

People are worried about inhaling our ecig exhale vapor, which has been shown to contain less than 2% of what we inhaled, but suck down PG in almost every soft drink, salad dressing, and now eye drops. Would the FDA allow us to put it in our eyes if it was bad for us? Can the residual mist that dissipates into the air be harmful? I think not. They will stand in the smoking area and talk to their smoker friends and then look down on us as we vape.

 

[fourtytwo]

I have never felt the urge to vape in areas where I did not smoke before.
Going for a smoke break continues to be a social thing but now has less health hazards associated with it. I just try to stand up wind.

 

[Stiles]

I vape pretty much everywhere. My boss said I can vape in my office if I want to but I find that I still like to just go outside every few hours and vape(which he is cool with too) I was however at a japanese steakhouse the other day for lunch and I asked the people sitting next to me if they minded and all of them said no they dont mind at all. One of the ladies there said she works with a few people that vape and it doesnt bother her in the least.

Two people asked me where i got it and if it really worked because they have loved ones who smoke. I gave them all the info i had to share with there loved ones. They were greatful and let me vape away!

 

[Ratchet]

I haven't tried vaping in places where smoking is prohibited such as grocery stores and restaurants... I can live an hour without my PV so I don't see the need. I do however vape at work, in the office. My boss doesn't care and actually prefers it cuz I smell better and don't go outside every hour to smoke anymore... LOL! I guess she thinks I'm more productive vaping in the office................

 

[Jellyfish-j]

I vape at work at my desk pretty much everyday, especially if i am busy and cannot get up to go take a break.

A few times, I have done it after a meal or at Walmart or something - Usually I do not ask & no one says anything.

I was on a cruise ship smoking it at the bar & the bartender asked me to move to the "smoking section" - so i took two steps down the bar & was fine, lol

 

[sailorman]

I vape everywhere it's not already explicitly banned. I've never had a problem. I try to be considerate about it and I don't blow vapor in anyone's face. Neither do I stop simply because some random bystander refuses to learn the difference between smoke and vapor. I'll sometimes ask permission in a restaurant, never in a bar. I found that most places don't have a policy at all and if you ask the wrong person, they'll immediately revert to CYA mode and default to the position that it's no different than a cigarette. So, it's usually best to ask a manager in a restaurant, if you ask at all. A two minute explanation can establish a policy on vaping where none had existed before, if you're talking to a manager and not a clerk or server.

It's important that vaping not be associated with smoking and that it become a common sight. I will never vape in a smoking area and I refuse to "sneak" vape. All vapers need to do to be treated like smokers or criminals is to act like we're smoking or doing something wrong. If I'm somewhere I need to vape, I'll vape openly and considerately. If I'm not permitted to vape for reasons of ignorance, I'll try to educate, or I'll leave. If I leave, I'll try to let the management know exactly why I'm leaving.

Hey I've been told that the government is passing laws now that is stopping the whole vaping in public thing. Is that true? And if so.. um WHY?!?!?! Ya think the cig companies are behind this at all? Grrr.. is making me so mad I can't stand it. I will always vape in public and I don't care what others say, I will just do the stealth vape thing.

Happy Stealth Vaping everyone! =)

That is the state gov't in Utah and the cig companies probably have less to do with it than spineless politicians kowtowing to the overwhelming political influence of the religious sect that runs everything in that state. There's no need to sneak vape. That's counterproductive anyway. They're not banning it in public; they're treating vaping like they treat cigarettes. If cigs are banned in public, so will vaping be banned. This is a perfect example of why the association between cigs and vaping must be broken. If it's not, we can expect other states to do the same thing. Some have already succeeded.

 

[sailorman]

...
I was on a cruise ship smoking it at the bar & the bartender asked me to move to the "smoking section" - so i took two steps down the bar & was fine, lol

If you were "smoking" it at the bar, the bartender was perfectly right to move you to the smoking section. But you were vaping, not smoking. Why would you want to stand around and breathe someone else's smoke? A cruise ship is a difficult situation. You can't just get up and walk out. I think I'd want to try to clear it with someone first, preferably before I even booked the cruise.

I've noticed that vapers seem to become non-smokers physically long before it soaks in mentally. We can quit smoking in a day but, in our minds, we're still smokers months later. How many of us would never think about booking a "non-smoking" cruise. How many of us won't vape in a non-smoking hotel room, or anywhere else smoking is forbidden? How many of us have no problem with being herded like cattle into smoking areas where we can take on the scent, pollution and image we tried so hard to rid ourselves of? If we want to be treated like pariahs like smokers, discriminated against and ostracized like smokers, we need only to act like smokers. We're more likely to be treated like a non-smoker if we act like one.