Vaping. Is it considered smoking?

[kcrazorbackfan]

I was in two eating establishments this week that don't allow smoking and individuals came in with these devices. Discussions ensued between management and the individuals with the individuals finally stopping their sucking on them. They look as nasty as cigarettes.

[redwitch]

A smoker will say no, not the same. Since the issue is supposed to be secondhand smoke dangers, people should be allowed to smoke them in public. A non smoker will say it is still smoking and insist it be stopped immediately.

How it looks is not the issue and should not be the issue. How it affects the health of others should be the issue. If they are going to ban public use of the electronic cigarettes then all scented products should be banned since scents are known to cause asthma attacks, migraines and other breathing issues.

[graciegirl]

One of my friends smokes them. They aren't offensive to me at all.

[Sandtrap328]

The question is "is vaping an e-cigarette the same as smoking".

Yes, it is.

Marriot hotels include e-cigs in their no smoking policy as does Celebrity cruise line. If the hotel has proof you vaped in a room, it is a $250 cleaning fee same as if you smoked a tobacco product.

They do emit the vapors that are noticible to the nose.

True, the vapor is not smoke but I certainly would complain in any establishment that has a no smoking policy if a patron was vaping while I was in the establishment.

If one of my friends was at my house and asked if he or she could vape, I would kindly say no.

[tcxr750]

One website ( a manufacturer's) says e-cig vapors consist of a variety of harmless chemicals. Another medical website says they contain 19 harmful chemicals. I guess its up to the individual as to how much potential risk to take to inhale nicotine.
I've been several places near people inhaling the vapors. Not a pleasant odor IMO. I think the ban from certain places is a good thing.

[gerryann]

I was in Publix about a year ago. A young 20something yr old boy was with his mother and smoking an E cigarette. I was taken aback......didn't know if allowed, and just ignored. It looked like a real cigarette. Person I was with told me it was E cigarette.

I would also NOT allow anyone to smoke one in my house.

I also would NOT want to be near anyone smoking one at restaurant.

[jnieman]

The way I look at it is that good for them, they were able to stop smoking cigarettes. I don't agree with smoking them inside restaurants or public buildings although I cannot smell my husband's at all I can smell some of them. They have a sweet smell. I am a former smoker and know just how hard it can be to quit and am thrilled that my husband hasn't had a regular cigarette in over a year.

[tippyclubb]

I use electronic cigarettes and NO it is not smoking. It's the moisture in the mouth combined with propylene glycol that emits what appears to be smoke. PG is in many house hold products like soap, skin products, makeup, toothpaste and some food products.

Many restaurants do not allow vaping as certain flavors do smell and can be offensive to others. I have no problem with that and go outside and vape. Even when I was smoking I tried to be considerate of others and do the same now.

Electronic cigarettes are not allowed at the squares either. I did not know it wasn't allowed as there were no signs stating such. Someone reported me to security and I was told to stop or leave. I stopped but it was rather embarrassing.

[Topspinmo]

still inhaling the vapor of something into your lungs. Look how long it took to figure out smoking cig's was bad. it may take years to figure out if you'll die from it. Why take the chance, as Yuill Bruner once said; JUST DON'T SMOKE!

[DonH57]

We just recently have been flying and no airlines we have been on have allowed e-cigs. They only referenced FAA regulations. Are they in any way a flame or electronic danger. Never used them so I wouldn't know?

[tippyclubb]

We just recently have been flying and no airlines we have been on have allowed e-cigs. They only referenced FAA regulations. Are they in any way a flame or electronic danger. Never used them so I wouldn't know?

Yes, Don they can be dangerous. E-cigs have a lithium Ion battery which can explode and catch fire with improper use. Battery explosions can be attributed to user error by over charging them.

[DonH57]

Yes, Don they can be dangerous. E-cigs have a lithium Ion battery which can explode and catch fire with improper use. Battery explosions can be attributed to user error by over charging them.

Oh yeah. That make sense. We sometimes travel with a mobility scooter that utilizes a lithium Ion battery that you have to hand carry as the airlines don't want it in cargo and it could easily get damaged also. Luckily the TSA folks are better trained to recognise them. On occasion one of them never sees one and the x ray determines it should be looked at. No never mind to me as I expect them to do their jobs. It's what we are paying for.

[karostay]

I was in two eating establishments this week that don't allow smoking and individuals came in with these devices. Discussions ensued between management and the individuals with the individuals finally stopping their sucking on them. They look as nasty as cigarettes.
I'm a reformed smoker the worst critic there is.
I find them far less intrusive than cell phones in restaurants

[tcxr750]

TSA doesn't want lithium-ion batteries in cargo because they may explode? So they are carried in the passenger compartment?

[jnieman]

TSA doesn't want lithium-ion batteries in cargo because they may explode? So they are carried in the passenger compartment?

Hubby carried his on Delta last month. Actually emptied his pockets into the tub and his E- cigarette was in there with his keys, etc..

[patfla06]

WhO knows what is in those e cigarettes.
I think they should be banned just like cigarettes.

[Bavarian]

The reason Governments are trying to ban e-cigarettes is that they don't tax them.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

If you are going to give up smoking (and you should the evidence is clear) just do it. Vaping is not a good idea.

[John_W]

Most establishments that post signs, usually have signs that read 'no smoking allowed' or 'no smoking'. I don't remember too many going into detail, such as no smoking pipes, no smoking cigars, no smoking cigarettes, no smokng e-cigarettes. I think a sign that reads no smoking is pretty clear when it comes to these products.

http://www.mydoorsign.com/img/lg/K/No-Smoking-Sign-K-2685.gif

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcaRdbx7SDU7UvzvCRbCd0YnXmgUDVr bdOgy-DhiB4-kHD_Klqsw

[KayakerNC]

The reason Governments are trying to ban e-cigarettes is that they don't tax them.

Then how do you explain the prohibitions on regular cigarettes?

[tippyclubb]

TSA doesn't want lithium-ion batteries in cargo because they may explode? So they are carried in the passenger compartment?

Laptops and cell phones can explode and cause fires also. It's rare but it can and does happen, just like an e-cig battery.

Laptop Battery Explosion (http://www.thewindowsclub.com/cellphone-laptop-battery-explosion)

[rubicon]

It may be an optical illusion but it appears people are severely critical of cigarette/cigar/pipe/ e-vape but seem to believe that recreational marijuana is a non-issue when the latter has more critical social/health issues than the former. I never did drugs and it took me a long time to figure out a person I know was smoking marijuana and I can tell you that I'd rather have a e-gig blown in my face than the awful odor emitted from marijuanabarf

[blueash]

http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/ecigslaws.pdf

Here is a list of places which partially or totally ban e-cig use. However how individual businesses interpret a no-smoking ban may go beyond these specific regulations. It would seem however that if the legislators felt a need to add e-cigs to the existing anti-tobacco regulations there is an implied belief that anti-smoking rules did not automatically include anti-e-cig coverage. In the list you will see that Marion county Florida bans e-cig use in places where smoking is prohibited.

County passes restrictions on e-cigarettes | Ocala.com (http://www.ocala.com/article/20131119/articles/131119684)

It is a tricky and interesting question whether the reasons for the anti-smoking bans should apply to vaping. There are no documented second hand inhalation issues, there is no actual smoke. There is a visual simulation of cigarette smoking, there may or may not be long term health issues for the user in nicotine addiction. But we don't ban use of other nicotine delivery systems, gum or patch, in public spaces. And we don't ban the use or carrying of steamy odor producing products, cup of coffee.

So can a restaurant tell a diner not to vape? Being a private business it may regulate the behavior of customers in any way it chooses and does not need a law to permit such regulation. You must wear a suit, no outside food or drinks, no shirt no service, are all examples of rules the restaurant makes up and enforces.

[graciegirl]

http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/ecigslaws.pdf

Here is a list of places which partially or totally ban e-cig use. However how individual businesses interpret a no-smoking ban may go beyond these specific regulations. It would seem however that if the legislators felt a need to add e-cigs to the existing anti-tobacco regulations there is an implied belief that anti-smoking rules did not automatically include anti-e-cig coverage. In the list you will see that Marion county Florida bans e-cig use in places where smoking is prohibited.

County passes restrictions on e-cigarettes | Ocala.com (http://www.ocala.com/article/20131119/articles/131119684)

It is a tricky and interesting question whether the reasons for the anti-smoking bans should apply to vaping. There are no documented second hand inhalation issues, there is no actual smoke. There is a visual simulation of cigarette smoking, there may or may not be long term health issues for the user in nicotine addiction. But we don't ban use of other nicotine delivery systems, gum or patch, in public spaces. And we don't ban the use or carrying of steamy odor producing products, cup of coffee.

So can a restaurant tell a diner not to vape? Being a private business it may regulate the behavior of customers in any way it chooses and does not need a law to permit such regulation. You must wear a suit, no outside food or drinks, no shirt no service, are all examples of rules the restaurant makes up and enforces.



I thought everyone must be treated equally. So if you are purple or unhappy or very skinny or smell funny or are almost naked or have a shirt with obscenities or are carrying a snake......................or have a holster..........sit right down. Some of those things are fine with me and some aren't. But we can't address everyone's dislike or issue with laws. And personally, up until now, I can't think of any reason a business can't make rules about who they serve. I hope there won't soon be a sign that says "We don't serve wrinkled old Catholic ladies who take too long studying the menu".