What do you say when confronted about "SMOKING"!!!

[stahrman]

I have only been vaping for a few weeks now, and feel weird vaping in public like in stores and restuarants. I guess I'm not sure what to say when someone tells me "Excuse me sir, but you're not allowed to smoke in here"!! I guess I would say something like......"I'm not smoking, this is just water vapor" or "There is no law about vaping in public" or maybe...."Smoking??? This is my asthma inhaler"!!! Anyways, what do you guys and gals say??? PS...Isn't it up to any owner of the establishment you are in to ban you from vaping......."Sorry sir, but that looks too much like smoking and you can't do that in here"??? Then what???

 

[Moen81]

Personally I wouldn't do it inside anywhere without asking if it was ok first. just to be polite. Ive found that if you explain what you mean most people are cool. like you said its not smoking.

 

[JesByChance]

I guess for me, if the owner says don't, then I won't. I don't vape in public anyway, other than when outside. I feel it would draw way too much attention. There's another thread on here re: this same kind of thing.

 

[JuicedUp]

I think I've got so used to not smoking in public places that I don't actually feel the need to vape there either.
Mind you, I'm getting pretty good at "stealth" vaping indoors at work

 

[Playa_hamm420]

I avoid social situations that require me to school under educated people anymore..

But if i had to say something id prolly be like... Im vaping .. google ECF and leave me alone!

 

[bev135]

I try to avoid the confrontations.

Even though I could vape lots of places, I often don't. If it's not a place I was used to smoking or someplace that I'm going to be for a long time, like a store, I usually just keep my e-cig in my pocket. Or, like once when I was shopping with some friends who were being very slow and I was getting bored, I try to be discrete about it so nobody will notice.

If I'm in a restaurant or bar where I plan to be for awhile, I usually try to show my e-cig to the server and ask if they're okay with it. Never had anybody say no. Sometimes they want an explanation and sometimes not. And even then I try to avoid drawing attention to it by making big clouds of vapor or waving it around like a cigarette -- just to avoid potential issues.

When I have had somebody say that I'm not allowed to smoke, I show it to them, tell them it's an electronic cigarette, and ask if it was bothering them. A sort of apologetic, "Oh, I didn't think anybody could smell it" usually gets the response I was looking for -- that no, they can't smell it or that it smells good and that it's not bothering anybody.

No need to get into conversations about what is and isn't against the law.

 

[bigtiime]

I don't vape in a public place such as a bar or restaurant until I have asked the manager and I have been told it is ok to do so. It's been my experience that being polite and not having the mindset that I can just go ahead and vape has been very successful in many of the establishments.

With this said, My wife and I were at a restaurant just recently and were sitting at the bar waiting for a table. I had asked if it was ok to vape at the bar and was told to go ahead. A nice waitress came by and slid an ashtray to me. I didn't say anything to her except "thank you".

 

[ctourtelot]

I don't remember ever being confronted about it, but I've been asked questions about it. I'm not very overt about it unless I'm somewhere that smoking is allowed or in an outdoor area. Even when I'm in a restaurant, I will hold in the vapor. I did that at Outback last night with my big set up and no one batted an eyelash...but then again, I wasn't letting huge clouds of vapor out either.

We've had a retail store in this area for a couple of years now and they've been in all the malls even longer so I don't think there are too many people around here that don't know what they are.

 

[ianlm]

I don't really vape in stores or other places where I couldn't have smoked, with the one exception being bars. And in bars, I always ask if it's OK first. IMO, restaurants in particular are asking for trouble - people get freaked out about the idea of "smoke" around them while they're eating, and nothing you say is going to make them anything other than annoyed at best about you vaping in that situation. It's better for us as a community to have as small of an impact as possible, while balancing the need for societal awareness that what we do is *not* smoking

 

[odiedodi]

I've never had anybody approach me under the assumption that I'm smoking. I've vaped at arby's, subway, at target (when I'm off the clock), the mall, higher end restaurants, and college. I think it's because people have started seeing commercials about vaping being legal in public, so they assume it's ok.

 

[xhaler]

The only public place I vape is work (covertly) and the pub. My usual go-to pub has no problem with it. Even though there's nothing wrong with vaping, I would feel weird just cruising around a store with it. But I love being able to vape while having a beer. I have only been told once that that there was a "policy" against vaping because it would make others think they could smoke (so, stupid!), and that was at the casino (of all places!). I definitely am not about being confrontational, but I'm definitely against hiding it, or being treated like a "smoker". I think it's in all of our best interests to get the word out about vaping and gaining support for it through education.

A pleasant tone in explaining what vaping is, is more likely to achieve a positive result than barking back at anyone that is clearly ignorant about vaping/e-cigs. Go forth and spread the word! ;o)

 

[Damper]

Living in a small village where no one seems to have even heard about vaping, I get lots and lots of questions about it. Everyone is very curious, and I feel like some kind of vaping missionary at times... As I take a cigarette style to work with me, I have had to screw it apart a couple of times to 'prove' that I'm not smoking!

I really like the fact that I can contribute with this 'new' alternative to smoking, and in my bare 3 weeks of vaping I have pointed many of my cigarette smoking acquaintances towards vaping as a presumably healthier alternative. Some have already ordered their first vaping devices.

After houers of reading this forum I am happy to say they are getting into vaping without making my typical newbie mistakes of ordering way overpriced items

Nonsmokers tend to think the idea of vaping are pretty stupid, and I have had comments like: That seems like drinking non alcoholc vodka... Well - if you are into vodka - why not

 

[DummyMe]

I'm stuck outside with the smokers. No indoor vaping in New Jersey. I envy you guys that can vape in a bar.

 

[bev135]

To prove that it isn't a cigarette? Stick it in your pocket. Has gotten me some very surprised looks!

 

[Kay1959]

I started off with the Blu, which looks alot like a cig, I've since gone to the eGo, which looks nothing like a cig. I think that's probably better and easier when out in public, as it looks nothing like a cig. I've vaped at WalMart, Kroger's, the Dr's office, Arby's, and a Janapeese restaurant with no problems or questions. Actually, I think I would welcome questions about it, as that would give me an opportunity to explain and teach others about it. Sort of like what we do here at ECF! Explain and teach those who want to know what device they should get etc. If someone were to say they didn't want me to vape in their establishment, I'd stop, no problem, out of respect for them.

 

[Jerri Ross]

I vape everywhere and anywhere. The only place I haven't vaped, was at my kids school, I thought that would def be not good!!! I dont ask, just do it. And put it right down on the table, or in my pocket after a puff so people can see it and think "You cant do that with a real cig, and I dont smell anything so....". Random strangers, maybe 3 times, have come to ask what it was, seeming pretty curious, maybe even excited. But I've never been gotten onto, or asked to quit smoking/vaping.
If they asked what it was, I avoid calling it an ecig, guilty by association. We just call them nicotine inhalers, or vaporizers. We would kindly put them away if asked to tho. Arguements wont help you win anyone over.

 

[acidbottle]

thankfully im allowed to vape at work, in fact theres 3 of us so its even easier to do, even if my boss pisses herself laughing at us ;( ive not had the need or urge to go out in public and vape yet, i never really did with smoking either except outside bars and pubs.

my non smoking mates think its great!

 

[Hitmetwice]

Q: What's that?
A: It's my personal vapourizer. It's just steam.
Q: Did you get it from the doctor?
A: No.

I always keep it low key, not flaunting it, and respect the opinion of
complainers even though they are wrong. I never use the word cig. or cigarette
in my description.

It helps a little having a Provari as it looks more like a medical device than it does a smoke.

Always choose where and how to vape, being concious of surroundings and others.


Cheers Hitme

 

[acidbottle]

to be honest, if anyone does approach you and ask what that thing is you have sticking out your gob, just say its your inhaler. off they will mooch none tghe wiser

 

[odiedodi]

I'm stuck outside with the smokers. No indoor vaping in New Jersey. I envy you guys that can vape in a bar.

It's my belief that one day we'll all be in the same boat. I know that the CASAA will fight to the bitter end, but big pharma and the FDA are very ruthless in taking out things they disagree with. I hope I'm wrong, but either way, I make sure to take advantage of the fact that I can vape anywhere.