Although they certainly don’t mean to, many vape enthusiasts inadvertently inconvenience the people around them. More often than not, this is done out of ignorance as opposed to genuine inconsideration. However, the people who are inconvenienced are unlikely to care about this distinction. Fortunately, inconsiderate vape-related behaviors are generally easy to correct. So, if you catch yourself engaged in any of the following actions, make an effort to set things right.
Vaping in Areas Where it’s Not Allowed
There’s no denying that some businesses and public spaces are clearer about their vaping policies than others. However, regardless of where you are, it’s generally a safe assumption that you’re now allowed to vape indoors. While vape shops and bars may be the rare exception to the rule, you should still ask for clarification before pulling out your vape pen and having a puff. So, even if you don’t see signage that clearly spells out a business’s policy on vaping, it’s in everyone’s best interest that you simply abstain.
Vaping in spaces where it’s not allowed can cause tremendous embarrassment to both yourself and anyone you happen to be with. Being asked to leave a business is bad enough without embarrassing friends or family members in the process. Furthermore, vaping in businesses stands to get you banned from your favorite haunts and saddled with hefty fines.
Vaping in the Presence of New People
Just as you shouldn’t assume you can vape in a business or public space, you shouldn’t assume that you can do it in the presence of someone new, either. So, if you’re unclear on where a person stands on vaping, take care to avoid doing it in their presence. Even if they don’t have a problem with vaping in general, they may not want it done right in front of them. At the very least, make a point of asking for permission before proceeding to vape in front of someone new.
Vaping at Meals
Although some vaping enthusiasts enjoy ending their meals with a good puff, this isn’t the best thing to do when there are other people at the table. For example, while you may not think twice about enjoying a post-meal vape when dining alone, doing so when you’re dining with friends or family members comes off as extremely inconsiderate. Even if you’re hosting people for dinner, you’ll need to take your guests’ comfort into consideration and abstain from vaping at the table.
Vaping in the Homes of Others
Regardless of how comfortable you are around someone, you shouldn’t assume that they’re okay with you vaping in their home. Even if this person has no problem with you vaping in their presence elsewhere, there are a multitude of reasons they may not want you doing it in their personal living space. Once again, when in doubt, simply ask. Additionally, even if a friend or family member gives you the go-ahead once, you shouldn’t assume this means they’ll be okay with it every time. For good measure, make a point of investing in non-leaky, high-quality equipment, like a dependable vape pod system.
Stealth Vaping
As the name implies, stealth vaping refers to the practice of vaping in a stealthy manner – usually by hiding one’s vape pen and taking small puffs. In addition to being disrespectful, stealth vaping is practically guaranteed to be noticed by the people around you. While some of them may be too embarrassed for you to call out your behavior, you shouldn’t take this as a sign that you’ve gotten away with anything. So, no matter how badly you think you need a puff, it’s better to wait it out instead of embarrassing yourself and others.
While some members of your social circle are likely to be on board with vaping, a fair number of them may not be particularly keen on the habit – and without even realizing it, you may be inconveniencing them in a number of ways. Some of them might even think that you engage in certain vape-related behaviors out of sheer inconsideration. Luckily, vaping etiquette mistakes are very easy to become mindful of and correct. So, if you suspect any of your vaping practices have proven inconvenient to the people around you, keep an eye out for the behaviors discussed above.
