The public outlook on vaping in this country is slowly taking a positive stance, but there are a few things we can do to help. In this article we will go over a few dos and don’ts of vaping.

Why do you care?

Vaping in recent years has grown exponentially and has been in the news a lot recently. Some of the news has been good, some of it not so good. With over 2.8 million vapers in the UK today there is still a large grey area around what is acceptable and what is not.
With Vaping balancing on the edge of being bundled in with Cigarettes and the legislation around that we need to do all we can to avoid this. The easiest way to do that is by using common sense and help educate the general public on the differences of combustible tobacco products and vaping.

Location

• At Home: At home it is down to your discretion. Unlike tobacco, vapour will not stain or damage furniture or walls and the smell will not linger for a long time. If you want to sit on your sofa blowing huge clouds while you watch the Walking Dead, you can. Bare in mind if you have guests coming around that they might not want to sit in the strawberry scented fog so it's always worth airing out the house before they arrive, and when they're there to ask if they are comfortable with you vaping around them. Remember some people still don't understand the difference between smoke and vapour so take the opportunity to set them at ease with vapor.
• Driving: The UK have recently passed laws about smoking while in the car, fortunately this doesn't apply the vapour products. However you could still be breaking the law by vaping while driving. A car filled with vapour will impair visibility creating a dangerous situation for you and other drivers around you. Vaping in a car can also leave a slight film on the glass which can disperse light at night making it hard to see. If you're in someone else's car make sure you confirm with them that they are happy for you to vape in their car.

Social Expectations

• Children: You wouldn’t smoke around children, so don't vape around them either. You need to set a good example.

Stealth vaping is hiding equipment and holding in vapour to make it less visible when exhaled. This is an issue as it's designed to deceive, which means when caught it can be problematic as it causes severe damage to vaping’s reputation. However if stealth vaping is utilised in places where vaping is allowed then there is no issue with it.

Conclusion

You've probably read this and thought that most of this is basic manners, which it is. Studies have shown that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking, and that second hand vapour is harmless. However people may still not appreciate it. It's a sensitive time for vaping at the moment with governments introducing legislation and laws restricting vaping. We need to do all we can, and the best place to start is showing we are aware of our surroundings and we are polite and courteous