Is It Socially Acceptable to Vape in Public? - Vogue.com

Leonardo DiCaprio at the SAG Awards, January 30, 2016

Photo: Getty Images


If there’s anything Leonardo DiCaprio loves more than a Citi Bike, it’s his vape. His trusty e-cigarette has accompanied him on yacht trips in St. Barth’s, while he scoped out the scene at Art Basel, and most recently served as his date at Saturday night’s SAG Awards. Now that Leo has taken his vape commitment to the next level, we’re confronted with a new etiquette question: Is it ever socially acceptable to vape indoors?

The proper protocol regarding electronic smoking has been up for debate ever since the rise of e-cigarette use. Before New York included e-cigarettes in its no-smoking ban (which prohibits use in bars, restaurants, offices, parks, and on beaches), rules on vaping varied from establishment to establishment. But does the public e-cigarette ban extend to private functions? In the past few years, vaping has been making the rounds at many glamorous circuits: Katy Perry was seen sharing a vape pen with Orlando Bloom at this year’s Golden Globes after-party; Sarah Silverman showed off her liquid pot pen during the Emmy’s red-carpet procession in 2014; and, back when she was still dating Michelle Rodriguez, Cara Delevingne puffed out tiny vapor rings while watching a Knicks game.

Since the smell emitted from e-cigarettes is much less offensive than cigarette smoke (many e-liquids come in bubblegum and fruity flavors), and because it leaves no lingering odor on clothing or hair, many believe e-lighting up at a public gathering is not a faux pas. “There’s a certain smugness to vaping,” said Chloe Malle, Vogue’s Social Editor. “I feel like people think, I’m allowed to do this, don’t try to stop me.” Freelance writer Tulio Espinosa admitted he recently used a vape indoors during a wedding: “I did it twice and people stared, but nobody really said anything.” At a recent art show opening in Brooklyn, the Pax, a small dry herb vaporizer that looks like something that could have been designed by Apple, was casually being passed around the crowd. “What is it with this thing?” asked one of the attendees. “I keep seeing everyone with these in Chelsea.”

“Until [vaping] becomes ubiquitous, people are going to be unsure or nervous about where they can do it,” explained Lizzie Post, who shares her great-great-grandmother Emily’s penchant for doling out social advice and currently hosts a weekly podcast called Awesome Etiquette. “If it’s going to be distracting at all, that’s when I say it’s time to go somewhere else,” she said. “I don’t know what was going on at the moment Leo pulled [his vape] out, but my guess is, all the cameras turned straight to him, and whatever was going on onstage was completely missed.”

Eviana Hartman, a co-owner of Tetra, a new website dedicated to “elevating the aesthetic of smoking,” agreed that it’s always in best taste to simply step outside. “Why wouldn’t you? You might even strike up a conversation with a stranger,” she said. “Or, if you’re trapped inside a Hollywood awards ceremony with no way out and paparazzi hovering, then duck.”

As more and more states legalize marijuana, the social conundrum only becomes trickier. “I’d say, as a general rule of thumb, it’s not polite to brazenly ingest psychoactive substances in public; it might make people uncomfortable,” Hartman said. But even in the most liberal of circumstances, Post believes it’s still important to check with the host first. “You don’t want to steal your host’s thunder by pulling out the vape at a party and getting everyone high,” she said. “At least let your host do that if he or she wants to!”


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Well if it is not socially acceptable to vape then there are about hundreds or thousands of people around here who just do not care at all because I am seeing it more and more with each passing day. There are also a lot more stores and shops out there that are solely dedicated to vaping, which I think is pretty cool. It just goes to show you how fast something like this can catch on.

 

In my book, if it's not socially acceptable it is acceptable. This is because our society has turned into a political correctness organization with private club talk. What our society needs is people breaking the social rules. It's like culture, if there is only culture and no counter-culture, there is no culture.

 

I thought that was the whole point of inventing these, besides quitting cigs. In Colorado we can not smoke in restaurants or bars anymore. So socially acceptable or nor not? I say it should be since cigarettes are not anymore.

 

It seems to me that these days, there will always be somebody who takes offence at something for absolutely no reason whatsoever, and vaping is no exception.

While I agree with not vaping in smaller enclosed areas like a shop, bar or restaurant, how can people possibly complain if they're doing it in a huge shopping arcade or even outside?

No matter what a person does, sometimes they just can't win and you have to bite the bullet and stick up for yourself. If there's no law to vaping were you are to say you can't, carry on vaping and nevermind if it's 'socially acceptable' or not.

 

In the streets yes, but in enclosed spaces I'd say not. Even where permitted by law it is often frowned upon, for example when people smoke in shopping centres. I personally do not as I do not want people to feel uncomfortable around the vape.

 

There are definitely some people who will take offense at anything! Here in Arizona there is a ban on it in all public places including outdoor parks and public areas in Tempe but I don't know of any other towns that have included e cigarettes in smoking bans yet. I personally find this ridiculous because the only reason for people to really be offended is not liking the look of it. Meanwhile, people are allowed to douse themselves in buckets of cheap perfume that gives me a headache and makes me sneeze. So some of these bans really don't make sense to me. However, unless I'm in a group or area where I know it's cool, I still try to be pretty discreet about it even where it's not banned. I don't want to ruin it for everyone!

 

Vaping is still relatively new, so like you, that's also another reason why I wouldn't vape around others that don't, as they'll get the wrong impression.

People obviously don't want smokers to smoke in public places, and even though vaping isn't as bad, they don't actually understand the difference a lot of the time so it's not worth taking the risk in a lot of places.

 

In my complete honest opinion it's okay depending on the senerio. When I first started vaping and a little before it was popular, those who vaped were trying to quit smoking. Same as I'm trying to do. I see it okay as long as people are just using the pens blowing out smoke the equivalent, but for those people who vape and blow out a cloud that everyone in a 100sq ft area gets a nicotine buzz. If thats what your into then no I dont see that as socially acceptable you wouldnt want cigarette smoke blown in your face like that even if not it bothers many people with just the smell. Others feel the same way like that. So in short, tiny smoke clouds fine, them huge unnecessary smoke clouds are annoying and honestly give vaping the wrong name and cause it to be socially unacceptable.

 

I think it just really depends on where you are. I know that I have seen a lot of people out and vaping in public with nobody really raising an eyebrow or anything like that. I think that I would still feel weird about it, but I also felt weird smoking in front of others so it might just be a me issue. I would say that with time it will become more and more normal though and you will be seeing a lot more of it in public places.

 

There are definitely some people who will take offense at anything.Vaping is still relatively new, I think it just really depends on where you are. Restaurants could be off but I think it should be allowed when outside at least.

 

Even though I've only been vaping for a couple of months, the simple rule that I have, is that I don't vape anywhere that I wouldn't have smoked either.

I wouldn't have lit a cigarette on public transport or in a bar or a shop, so I don't vape in them places either, and for me it's as simple as that.

 

It depends on many factors, if it is a 'smoking-allowed' area it is fine, but generally many people will not appreciate it in shared closed places like restaurants. Just because it is safe, and there is no second-hand smoke does not mean it is not rude to start vaping in a movie theatre. If you are discreet, I guess it is ok, if you are blowing huge clouds of smoke everywhere, then you come across as a douchebag.

 

That's such a weird thing to dog on someone about...like come on, they found an outlet that is going to stop pumping hot smoke into their lungs, the effects are minimized, they save money and they have a chance of gradually reducing an addiction that's slowly killing them? And you're gonna tell em it's not socially acceptable? Well guess what Vogue, it's not socially acceptable to be cunts, so knock it off.

 

I do think that people who vape are getting a bit of a rough time, and sometimes when you hear stories like that you feel like just saying..."well you know what, I'll just go back to smoking cigarettes then in that case" as your not getting treated or spoken to any better.

 

I don't think there is any problem with vaping in public, as long as you are not affecting others around you. Vaping indoors or in a crowded area may be considered rude. Most public indoor areas usually don't allow vaping indoors anyway. But vaping outside is just fine. You may get a couple complaints from people here and there but otherwise it's totally fine.

 

There is certainly lots of people who don't like vaping, and are not afraid to be vocal about it.
I personally think it's silly, but I don't like to cause a disturbance so I always make sure everyone is cool with vaping around them.
Yes granted if I am at a busy place I won't really use it.
BUT A few times I have done it indoors at the mall and to be honest most people didn't even notice....
I wonder if it will ever get so common like smoking used to be, where you would see people on airplanes or in hospitals smoking cigarettes... wonder if In 20 years I can vape indoors like that or if it will eventually get banned.
Time will tell!

 

Your right and I think that only time WILL tell because at the moment, even though vaping is becoming more and more popular, there's not a great deal of research or laws that have been commissioned because of it.

It's like we're at the start still of the life of vaping, and the longer it goes on, the more we will get to understand it's effects and the more (or less) laws will be applied.

 

I think that's important. It's new, so some of this may be misunderstood- but on the other hand, more laws may come into place to take vaping out of the public eye.

Honestly, I know some people are weird about smells, so I try not to do it where the vape will linger, or I'll force people to deal with it. I tend to use it like a regular cigarette- so I'd never do it in a hallway, for example.

 

This concept of social acceptability set by magazines such as Vogue, I do not understand this. Sounds a lot like social engineering to me. If you want to vape, vape. And don't worry about what "average joe" next to you thinks about it. Are you a pack animal that needs the approval of your tribe to decide what you do? No your a human being, capable of critical and independent thought and action.