Vaping in Public: Our Guide to Vaping Etiquette

Vaping: It’s like smoking, just without all that nasty smoke. E-cigarettes spew out next to no harmful chemicals compared to those found in regular cigs such as formaldehyde, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. They’re much healthier for your lungs and don’t make everybody in your vicinity smell like an ashtray.

Vlad has quit smoking, then started, then quit, then started… but since taking up vaping he hasn’t touched a real cigarette! Whilst the general consensus is that it’s a 95% safer (NHS!) than smoking, I’ll take my chances on the 5% if it keeps me off the cigs.

What does concerns me is vaping getting a bad rep. Sub-ohm e-cigarettes like the ones Vlad uses create a lot of “fog” and I can see why non-smoker/vapers would be a little like “dude, not in my face”. I’ve seen people vaping in airports, on buses, in restaurants and the like, and why? You (probably) wouldn’t smoke a cig in those spaces.

Vaping comes with an equally important set of etiquettes to smoking. With their meteoric rise, few people remain aware of what the latest rules and regulations are.  Therefore, let’s reassess how, when and where you vape. Even as a smoker Vlad tried to ensure his habit didn’t bother other people, so this is our guide to vaping etiquette.

Vaping and the law

Let’s start where most things start: The long arm of the law. After all, there’s no point in knowing where you probably shouldn’t smoke if you don’t know where you definitely shouldn’t smoke. The good thing in this regard is that there is currently no concrete legislation banning vaping in public. In fact, Wales tried to pass banning legislation earlier this year but the people of Wales promptly declared, ’Dim diolch!’ as a choir gently vaped in the background, presumably.

While this means that you shouldn’t have any worries about where you are vaping like you would for smoking normal cigarettes, you shouldn’t really go vaping just anywhere.

Vaping in Bars

As e-cigarettes have become more popular, many bars and pubs have restricted the use on their premises, despite no official government law making it obligatory. The following chains to have ruled out vaping include JD Wetherspoons, All Bar One, Nicholson’s, Fuller’s, Mitchells & Butler, Greene King and Brewer’s Fayre. Whilst those are big names – that still leaves a lot of bars up in the air!

As ever, though, be smart about it. If you’re down your local and you’re not sure whether it’s permitted, ask.

Nightlife and Vaping

The rules about vaping within nightclubs and gigs is likely to vary from location to location. Some will have blanket bans on any form of smoking apart from within designated areas, whereas others will be more lenient if you ask politely. Of course, even if you’re given permission, it’s good to be mindful of non-vapers who might not derive the same enjoyment from clouds wafting in their face!

Before stepping out the door, it’s important to have prepared accordingly. As vaping has become more socially acceptable, a wide range of accessories have been developed with those around you in mind. Here’s some tips and kit to help you out.

Direct vs Mouth to Lung

Sub-ohming requires taking the cloud directly down (like an inhaler). “Mouth to lung” vaping is pretty much the same as smoking a ciggy and creates far smaller clouds. There are some great kits on the market that are built to work both ways like the Aspire Pockex All In One Starter Kit. When in public spaces – consider sticking to “mouth to lung” vaping.

Flavours and smells

One of the great things about vaping is that there are always new eliquid flavours and brands to try. In fact, there are more tastes on the market than in Willy Wonka’s factory! This includes plenty that are more discreet in smell than others and will not grate those around you. For nights out, we recommend milk, honey, dessert type flavours which tend be far softer than say, complex coffee flavours. If in doubt, scour the forums and blogs online for more tips and e-liquid reviews.

PG vs VG in e-liquids

PG (Propylene Glycol) is used to give e-liquids that throat hit that simulates smoking. It produces little in the way of clouds. VG (Vegetable Glycerin) is used to create the vaping clouds. Eliquids traditionally would be mixed 50/50 however, over the last year or so, it’s become more popular to go 30/70, 20/80 or 100% VG. Reason being, creating clouds is pretty fun and most full-time vapers don’t really need to simulate smoking. The flavours tend to be richer and smoother with VG. But this causes vape clouds to be much bigger.

So do your research when it comes to choosing your e-liquids. Maybe pack a 50/50 if you’re headed out. 50/50’s are more suited to “Mouth to lung” vaping too.

Nicotine

If you’re vaping to replace smoking, then it’s really the nicotine you’re after. Most sub-ohmers won’t go above 6mg of nicotine. When “mouth to lung” vaping, you take far less vape in, therefore, you could consider using a 12mg nicotine e-liquid. This way, you get the taste and nicotine needed, without the huge clouds.

Be smart about it

Regardless of the specific legal makeup of the location you’re thinking of vaping in, more important is the people. Some people might not be as familiar with vaping as they are with regular smoking, so seeing someone suck on a metal tube and blast out plumes of scentless steam might be a bit weird for them!

Therefore, as ever, be smart about it.