With more and more people seemingly switching to electronic cigarettes in order to overcome the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, there has been much talk about electronic cigarettes and etiquette. Therefore, people are still not sure whether it is good etiquette to start using an electronic cigarette in an enclosed space such as on a train or in a public library for example. In this article, we will take a look at some of the etiquette surrounding the use of electronic cigarettes in public.
Using Electronic Cigarettes in Public Places
As a rule of thumb, most makers of electronic cigarettes state that although there are not too many laws restricting the use of electronic cigarettes in public places, users should use discretion and their best judgment before using one. The safest thing to do is to ask for permission to use an electronic cigarette, rather than just assuming that the people nearby will be ok with it. One very awkward social situation in which to start using an electronic cigarette is in a restaurant, as people may not realize that you are in fact using the electronic alternative to the standard cigarette. In fact, a lot of restaurant and bar owners display signs stating quite categorically that the use of electronic cigarettes within the premises are banned. However, if you do not see a sign banning their use, it may be good etiquette to go outside to use your e-cig anyway.
It’s generally a bad idea to vape inside of a store or restaurant or any public place for that matter. Although the water vapor is harmless, it remains a personal habit and other people will certainly sometimes assume that you are actually smoking even up close. You must accept that many people just need to be informed and for the time being, acting out our freedom to vape in public places just hurts the image people give electronic cigarettes and its’ users. Non-smokers may still feel uncomfortable around you and there is no point in fighting against it. Why put yourself in an uncomfortable situation to start with? For now, we suggest to stick to general smoking areas when in public spaces.
Electronic Cigarettes and the Workplace
One area where the use of electronic cigarettes has risen is in the workplace. Work can be stressful at the best of times for a lot of people, and it is not uncommon to find that your work colleagues have left the building for a smoke break. However, with the advent of the electronic cigarette, smokers at work have been using these contraptions whilst sitting at their desks. Nevertheless, not everyone wishes to be surrounded by the vapor from these implements, no matter if the vapor is considered harmless or not, therefore, it is good etiquette to make sure that you inform your fellow work colleagues of your intentions.
At the end of the day, smoking is now seen as a selfish, unpleasant and harmful pastime, and even though switching to an electronic cigarette is much better, the fact that smoking in general is now frowned upon, should make one consider the implications of using an e-cig.