Your thoughts on minors vaping 0 nicotine juice

[flybykite]

I live in BC Canada where it is not illegal for minors under 18 to buy vaporizers however most shops still require age verification just because. Vaporizers just arrived in Canada not long ago and I have a 16 year old son who tells me that lots of kids in his school have just discovered them and vape 0 Nic juices for the "cool" factor. As vaping gains popularity in BC among smokers finding alternatives, the youth have discovered it and want in on the action.
Now my son wants one and I had a knee jerk reaction to try to steer him away but I know that he will do as he pleases whether or not I like it. I did when I was his age. I'm normally quite open with him about most topics and want to foster trust so he will continue to share with me anything at all and he does. So I'm feeling a bit guilty tonight thinking about how I use my vaporizer (coping with addiction) and seeing that he is interested in following what he sees. Same guilty feeling I've had stepping out for a smoke for many years. Best case scenario I suppose would be that he does it and moves on. I dont think he will develop the same addiction I have to smoking. God, I hope not! I suppose its much better than alcohol and chemical drugs.
So the options are..
Disallow him to vape around me while he knows I'm vaping my face off and at the same time possibly risk closing off some of the communications between us and me feeling like a complete hypocrite.
Or
Allow him to experiment with 0 nic juice because its perceived as relatively harmless and hope that he grows out of it.
We've already had loads of discussions about addictions, habits, health, and social acceptance/ disapproval.
Do any of you have a situation like this?

 

[stevegmu]

Yeah, I'm sure all the kids are vaping 0nic. Actually, they probably are vaping a liquid which contains no nic., but does contain other substances...

I'm guessing they also say they are drinking non-alcohol drinks.

I wouldn't be the enabler, regardless whether they will try it or not.

 

[Txaggiesaunt]

Only you can decide that. I personally do not encourage anyone that has never smoked to start vaping. Notice I said I do not encourage, I didn't say that I tell them don't do it, because it is not my place to tell anyone what to do. I started smoking to be cool, did my parents allow it....hell no. They didn't even know. I see where you are coming from. If they are going to do something they will find a way. Personally speaking and this goes for me, if my son were still under age I would in no way buy him ecigs, real cigs, alcohol or anything that he is not old enough to purchase himself. Parent first, friend second. That is just me. It is totally up to you to decide if this is what you and he both want. Just glad I am not in your shoes. Hard decision. Good luck

 

[Topwater Elvis]

I don't condone illegal behaviors of any sort including minor's using tobacco products or vaping.

IMO, it would be setting a bad precedent / teaching a child it's okay to ignore laws they disagree with.
To me it's on the bad ideas list with buying alcohol for minors.

 

[pmcode]

My dad and I had that same discussion aeons ago about smoking. Still remember it to this day. I had only been "stealth" smoking for around 6 months.
(complete idiocy on my part, parental units knew)

My dad, myself and some fellow CAP members were running parking lot control for the county fair (ye-haw!), and I was smoking when I thought my dad was on the other side of the farm field that we were using as a parking lot. He came up behind me, smacked me in the back of the head, and said "Guess you might as well do that out in the open, since I can't stop you." His premise was since he doesn't spend every second of the day with me, there was truly no real way to keep me from smoking, besides the obviously hypocritical "Do what I say, not what I do"

Assuming you have an open line of comms with your son, I would obviously use the "what's the point of doing something, just because it looks cool", line. Make sure he knows to do his own thing, regardless of what others think (sometimes harder than hell to do, with teen pressure).
Of course, at the end of the day, I think my dad was actually correct (heaven forbid). We can only hope some of our words sink into the developing grey matter between our kids ears. I try to repeatedly let my kids know I am not trying to hinder them, but to keep them from making the same stupid decisions I did. (at least the painful ones).

Sometimes I wonder how I ever even survived to procreate.

That's my .02c worth.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

No one can parent for you. Lots of things my kids had to wait till 18 to do, as long as they lived under my roof. Vaping would not be one of them. My youngest is now 21, and none of them smoke or vape. Not sure how that worked out, but I'm glad it did. They did all experiment with "things", but, so far, I'm the only idiot.....I smoked for 35 years. I think most parents go through somewhat similar things with their children during the "experimental" years, and I don't believe there is any kinda rule of thumb that applies to "most." Sorry, but I know I can't help, but feel for what you're going through, and just wanted to chime in to say that I feel ya. Hopefully, someone with more wisdom will come along and enlighten us. Good luck, hope it all works out, certainly could be a lot worse. God Bless.

 

[madqatter]

I don't condone illegal behaviors of any sort including minor's using tobacco products or vaping. IMO, it would be setting a bad precedent / teaching a child it's okay to ignore laws they disagree with.

In this case it's not actually illegal, just contrary to store policies:

I live in BC Canada where it is not illegal for minors under 18 to buy vaporizers

Of course, just because something is legal doesn't mean it should be done. Kids vaping 0 nic juice could cause problems for other vapers if adults wrongly assume the kids are getting addicted to nicotine and decide to overregulate vaping, for example. That may not happen, though, it's just one of many possibilities. I don't envy the parents dealing with this kind of question; I'm not entirely sure how I would deal with it if I were in their shoes. I would definitely want to sit down with my kid(s) and have an honest conversation about why they want to do it, why I do it, and so forth.

 

[UntamedRose]

I think at 16...I was already smoking a pack a day. Kids will be kids, and they do have their ways.......


maybe set your self up with a really strong TH atty & mod and a strong cinn flavor(recommend atomic from TV but surely there is an UK one similar) Be all the cool parent and let him try it. You get to be open he gets his gut kicked out............ all good in the end.

 

[Screamin Eagle]

At the age of 16 your boy seens to be in that "not a boy, but not yet a man" stage. I think, by the way your telling it, that you know that. So a sit down should go something like this....

"Son, I know I can't stop you from doing this, but I can't condone it either. I know what a mistake this is. I know from personal experance. Altho this is, as far as we know to this point, safer then smoking, it still isn't the right thing for you to be doing, and I really wish you wouldn't do it. But if you are hell bent on following the crowd please make me one promise. Never ever use a juice that has nicotine in it. Even if it means you do get to vape that day. Trust me when I say, the addiction is not worth it".

This is what "I" would do. YMMV.

 

[crxess]

Parenthood is not a popularity contest.

 

[Jman8]

Just to be clear flybykite, you are saying it is not illegal for minors (under 18) to buy vaporizers where you live?

If yes, and if vaping 0 nic, I am unable to see the problem.

Your disallow position does lead to being a hypocrite (as you noted). Do as I say, not as I do.
Your allow position maintains trust / respect and can include the boundary of 'no vaping nicotine' as is, I believe, your desire for your son.

In general, apart from your situation, if kids on this planet are not (legally) permitted to vape 0 nic juice, then the vaping industry is doomed. If adult vapers, of all people, don't get this, and instead roll over on this, then rest of the world will be right there with 'us' to ensure, what appears to me to be, a ridiculous stance on vaping.

Who needs outside regulations when vapers are ready to suggest that vaping 0 nic is harmful for certain persons (i.e. kids)?

 

[Racehorse]

if kids on this planet are not (legally) permitted to vape 0 nic juice, then the vaping industry is doomed. If adult vapers, of all people, don't get this, and instead roll over on this, then rest of the world will be right there with 'us' to ensure, what appears to me to be, a ridiculous stance on vaping.

Who needs outside regulations when vapers are ready to suggest that vaping 0 nic is harmful for certain persons (i.e. kids)?

I'm not CONCERNED about the "vaping industry"------I'm concerned about my kid. !!!!



I"m sure as heck not gonna use my kid to advance an agenda, of any sort, whether it be for the health of the vaping industry or anyone or anything else. My kid isn't up for sale in that way.

To the OP......the same things like cool factor can be said about harmless things like tatooos, or more dangerous things like _____.

If uyou believe that your child is going down a path that is not in THEIR best interest, or yours, then you need to say that. Forget about everyone else's interests. Just figure out what yours are, for YOUR child, and proceed.

Personally I do not want my kid getitng into the hand to mouth thing, inhaling, pursing lips to take hits off vape, all of that, not to mention having to charge batteries, learn about battery safety, finding eliquid, etc. They are children.

Vaping is harm reduction. Not proven entirely harmless, the inhalation of flavorings, colorings, etc. into child's lungs

As for the "do as I say not as I do", as a child, my parents had wine with christmas dinner, my dad had a beer with baseball games, my grandmother smoked.....we were very AWARE that as children, we were not allowed to make our own hours, drink or smoke. It was very clear to us. boo hoo, right?

 

[daquino2010]

This is a tough one! I have a fifteen year old son who DETESTS smoking so I can't imagine him trying vaping any time soon. However when I told him what I had started doing to quit smoking he says "yeah mom I've seen the kids at school doing that". I was pretty alarmed to learn there were students at his high school vaping in the hallways. I do not know, but can only hope an adult made them stop. As someone who has lived with various addictions in my family, I kind of feel like vaping could act as a "gateway" to other things. I remember when I was a kid after I had tried smoking cigarettes it was a natural transition to smoke other things. I would discourage our kids from doing it. Just my opinion....

 

[MrStik]

I would never encourage my son to ever try anything that can be considered a "vice". It may be hypocritical coming from a vaper to tell my son not to ever do it... but that is going to be at least a decade away as he is only 2.

 

[flybykite]

I'm thinking I almost have no choice but to lean toward allowing it. I'm not too concerned about the health effect with zero nic and that is where I will draw the line. I'm going to make sure he knows it is my habit and addiction that I do what I do and that in no way am I doing it to be cool or as a hobby. I do believe it will be a passing thing for him and the cool factor will wear off. Really, I cant see him getting into modding and spending lots of cash on it, having backups and all the things we addicts want to ensure we wont return to cigs.
So for now, I'll entertain his idea of it. Just cant imagine walking on the street vaping with him. How embarrassing that might get in my small town. Anyhow, I think this is a great topic and certainly very real. Hope we can keep it going.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[arcebelaced]

I vape 0 nic juice because I rarely ever smoked ciggs, unless I was out drinking or something but I did love hookah, never had the nerve to buy one and bring one home ahah.. now with beer, Ive been able to have 1 or 2 around my dad ever since I remember, his friends always asked if he let me drink he always said "Hes young and curious and Im doing it in front of him so I know if he wants one hes gonna have one at his friends, or he might even take one when Im not paying attention so I let him have 1 and have him drink it in front of me where Im supervising him" and that was it you know Id have one and just kick the curiosity of having a beer, same thing with cigs, I remember relatives let me take a drag once or twice in my lifetime and Id just cough my lungs out and think ... is so good about this, and it never escalated lol

 

[madqatter]

Anyhow, I think this is a great topic and certainly very real. Hope we can keep it going.

Agreed. I think people will probably come to very different conclusions, but I also think it's good to hear what everyone thinks and listen to their reasoning. Great thread.

FWIW, the more I read, the more I'm convinced that honest conversation with an older teen about the reasons we vape and the reasons they want to vape is a good thing.

 

[DJpuffer]

I would say be the parent and discourge it if thats something you dont want him doing. He will do it whether you give your blessing or not. But you need to be a parent and not a friend...... that's just my 2 cents

 

[TafkanX]

I'm going to lean toward allowing it. As you've stated, it's legal and at zero Nic the health concerns are minimal. While I wouldn't go buying him his own rig, letting him take a few puffs off yours with zero Nic juice loaded will dispel the curiosity factor and foster a bit of trust and bonding at very low opportunity cost.

In a similar vein, my dad let me drink under his supervision on occasion so that my first drinking experiences were under close supervision and in good company and a safe environment. It was a fine balance of allowing a little freedom while maintaining boundaries. I look back on those memories fondly.

Of course, he was appalled when I took up smoking several years later (he quit when I was very young to avoid encouraging this very thing), but by that point I was 18 and he recognized that there was little he could do at that point beyond reminding me that it was a nasty and unhealthy habit. Kids will do their own thing despite your best efforts to the contrary. (the two events are unrelated, of course, and I only mention the last bit to reinforce the stubborn nature of youth)

 

[happydave]

i would just like to say that i don't trust anything labeled 0 nicotine unless i mix it my self...