E-cigs in restaurants

[AustinTink]

I guess this habit is on the rise in restaurants. We were seated next to e-cig smokers two nights in a row this weekend. Saturday night we were surprised to have two elderly women smoking e-cigs next to us at Macaroni Grill. It was literally take a bite of food, take a drag off the e-cig continuously... totally gross.

As a former smoker, I understand the addiction. But even when I smoked 1/2 a pack a day, I never did so in a restaurant around people eating. I find e-cigs in restaurants just as offensive as the real thing. It's not going to kill anyone to make it through a meal at the flippin' Macaroni Grill without a cig of any sort.

I know people say they are harmless. Then why were our eyes watering the whole time we sat near them? I even got a couple of hives on my face.

And yes we told the manager as we left. Not that it would do any good I'm sure.

 

[Jennasis]

There was a time when people thought regular cigarettes were harmless too....or even beneficial.

 

[DebbieB]

A friend of mine smokes e-cigs. We went to Applebees and she asked if she could use it at the table after the meal. He went to the manager and came back and said it was company policy that they are not allowed. So she went outside for a few minutes.

 

[HM]

I guess this habit is on the rise in restaurants. We were seated next to e-cig smokers two nights in a row this weekend. Saturday night we were surprised to have two elderly women smoking e-cigs next to us at Macaroni Grill. It was literally take a bite of food, take a drag off the e-cig continuously... totally gross.

As a former smoker, I understand the addiction. But even when I smoked 1/2 a pack a day, I never did so in a restaurant around people eating. I find e-cigs in restaurants just as offensive as the real thing. It's not going to kill anyone to make it through a meal at the flippin' Macaroni Grill without a cig of any sort.

I know people say they are harmless. Then why were our eyes watering the whole time we sat near them? I even got a couple of hives on my face.

And yes we told the manager as we left. Not that it would do any good I'm sure.

I think I might have said something to management while I was there, especially if it was affecting me (watery eyes). I don't think they belong anywhere regular tobacco products aren't allowed...my opinion.

 

[LBIJim]

A friend of mine smokes e-cigs. We went to Applebees and she asked if she could use it at the table after the meal. He went to the manager and came back and said it was company policy that they are not allowed. So she went outside for a few minutes.

Good for that Applebees. Wonder if it's a chainwide policy or left to the discretion of each individual restaurant. IMO e-cigs don't belong anywhere tobacco products are banned.

Just based on the few instances I've observed: Some e-cig users seem to have a worse attitude and sense of entitlement than regular tobacco smokers. Glad your friend isn't one of them.

 

[LBIJim]

There was a time when people thought regular cigarettes were harmless too....or even beneficial.

Ads and commercials in the 1950s even featured doctors endorsing the benefits of whatever brand paid them enough to say so.

 

[JRawkSteady]

There was a time when people thought regular cigarettes were harmless too....or even beneficial.

Heck, if Fred Flintstone advertised them, they HAVE to be good, right?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I guess this habit is on the rise in restaurants. We were seated next to e-cig smokers two nights in a row this weekend. Saturday night we were surprised to have two elderly women smoking e-cigs next to us at Macaroni Grill. It was literally take a bite of food, take a drag off the e-cig continuously... totally gross.

As a former smoker, I understand the addiction. But even when I smoked 1/2 a pack a day, I never did so in a restaurant around people eating. I find e-cigs in restaurants just as offensive as the real thing. It's not going to kill anyone to make it through a meal at the flippin' Macaroni Grill without a cig of any sort.

I know people say they are harmless. Then why were our eyes watering the whole time we sat near them? I even got a couple of hives on my face.

And yes we told the manager as we left. Not that it would do any good I'm sure.

We had one at a football game. She not so politely informed me it was ok. My response was then why are you hiding it? Let's ask that cop down there if e cigs are ok shall we? Poof sign her up. She moved faster than any player we have as she exited quickly.

 

[minkydog]

There was a time when people thought regular cigarettes were harmless too....or even beneficial.

Ads and commercials in the 1950s even featured doctors endorsing the benefits of whatever brand paid them enough to say so.

*nods* My MIL was told to smoke AND drink during all 3 of her pregnancies, "to calm her nerves." Since she is (and was at the time) an alcoholic, this was just dandy with her. It really is a wonder that her first two kids were okay. The last one, however, was born a little prematurely at 35weeks. Today that wouldn't be a big deal, but back in 1958 those babies could go either way. I've often wondered if the smoking, in particular, contributed to him being born prematurely. He only lived a couple days before succumbing to pneumonia. (Smoking is well-known to cause premature births).

 

[marmalade]

We had one at a football game. She not so politely informed me it was ok. My response was then why are you hiding it? Let's ask that cop down there if e cigs are ok shall we? Poof sign her up. She moved faster than any player we have as she exited quickly.

I am going to start off with I am not a smoker, never was and never will be BUT....


E-cigs are 100% legal. I am not sure threatening her with a cop would have been my first response, especially since football games are held outdoors. Seems a little high and mighty to go that route. I am sure there was someone sneaking a real cigarette somewhere around that football field that very same day.

 

[mom2rose&john]

I am going to start off with I am not a smoker, never was and never will be BUT....


E-cigs are 100% legal. I am not sure threatening her with a cop would have been my first response, especially since football games are held outdoors. Seems a little high and mighty to go that route. I am sure there was someone sneaking a real cigarette somewhere around that football field that very same day.

Actually, I was at the Bills game and their rules and regulations state that e-cigs are not allowed in the stadium. Not sure if it's tobacco related or can be used as a weapon. Cigarettes are also legal but can prohibited in many areas.

 

[luvsJack]

I am going to start off with I am not a smoker, never was and never will be BUT....


E-cigs are 100% legal. I am not sure threatening her with a cop would have been my first response, especially since football games are held outdoors. Seems a little high and mighty to go that route. I am sure there was someone sneaking a real cigarette somewhere around that football field that very same day.

I agree completely. Most places that do not allow smoking DO allow e-cigs. And unless it is posted that they are not allowed, there probably wasn't much a cop or security could do anyway. A

 

[luvsJack]

Actually, I was at the Bills game and their rules and regulations state that e-cigs are not allowed in the stadium. Not sure if it's tobacco related or can be used as a weapon. Cigarettes are also legal but can prohibited in many areas.

But they have a specific policy to that. Not all places do.

 

[marmalade]

You don't have to have nicotine in your e-cig. Without nicotine you are left with propylene glycol, which can be found in many of the foods we eat, ie. salad dressing, bake good mixes, juices, certain yogurts etc..... You also have Vegetable Glycerin which you can find in sports drinks, beer, wine, marshmallows, etc......

Granted they do not know for 100% certainty if they are safe or not, but maybe the ones claiming they are not safe should start looking at the ingredients on their food labels before they claim how unsafe e-cigs are.

 

[Gina]

You don't have to have nicotine in your e-cig. Without nicotine you are left with propylene glycol, which can be found in many of the foods we eat, ie. salad dressing, bake good mixes, juices, certain yogurts etc..... You also have Vegetable Glycerin which you can find in sports drinks, beer, wine, marshmallows, etc......

Granted they do not know for 100% certainty if they are safe or not, but maybe the ones claiming they are not safe should start looking at the ingredients on their food labels before they claim how unsafe e-cigs are.

Thank you for the voice of reason. There's not much in e-liquid that even has the possibility of being bad -- just PG, VG, and food-grade (often Kosher) flavoring. And nicotine, if the person so chooses. The vapor that is produced is exactly the same as what is produced by fog machines, but food-grade. As the pp said, if they determine there is a problem with the ingredients in e-liquid then 99.9% of us are in big trouble because the main ingredients are in just about everything.

I smoked for 30 years, quit July 21st with the right e-cig. I have quit several times over the years, but this time I haven't looked back. I have lowered the amount of nicotine I'm vaping over the past couple of weeks, but I don't care if I never reduce it to zero -- nicotine itself is addictive, but generally not harmful in and of itself. More studies are showing that every day. Having that nicotine in there is what has enabled me to finally quit, without the constant cravings and murderous feelings, lol. But I'm getting (and neither is anyone around me getting) the thousands of truly horrible chemicals and substances that cigarettes create. And the vapor not only doesn't smell awful -- depending on the flavor, it smells really good.

My issue with lumping e-cigs into the same category as regular cigarettes, is that so many people are like me and use e-cigs to quit smoking. But then I'm forced to vape in a smoking section, and frankly, that's still pretty hard. And not only is it hard, but then my clothes and hair smell like the smoke that I'm SO happy to be rid of!! I'm not sure what the solution is... but I wish there was one that kept everyone happy.

just my .02...

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It has been tabled in a few states for a vote to make it illegal. Now I think it just needs to be regulated (my opinion).

Many restaurants around here have signs saying it is not allowed in the building. Also many businesses have followed suit. They provide an area that is not always the same as the smoking area.

I used to smoke. I don't like the vape smells just like I don't like the smell of cigarette smoke any more. Especially in a restaurant. They are flavored and the smell and really change an eating experience.

I think we will see a lot of heated discussions on this topic in the coming year. (Not specifically on this board but in general).

 

[Gina]

It has been tabled in a few states for a vote to make it illegal. Now I think it just needs to be regulated (my opinion).

Many restaurants around here have signs saying it is not allowed in the building. Also many businesses have followed suit. They provide an area that is not always the same as the smoking area.

I used to smoke. I don't like the vape smells just like I don't like the smell of cigarette smoke any more. Especially in a restaurant. They are flavored and the smell and really change an eating experience.

I think we will see a lot of heated discussions on this topic in the coming year. (Not specifically on this board but in general).

I neglected to put in my reply that I agree it should not be allowed indoors in a normally-non-smoking venue, especially in a restaurant. You're very right, you don't want any other smells interfering with what you're eating!

I've never seen anyplace with separate smoking/vaping areas, though... That would be so awesome!

 

[Colleen27]

Around here, most restaurants e-cig policy is what their regular cigarette police used to be - patio only or only in the bar area. That seems a very reasonable compromise, in my opinion, but there are those pushing to extend the state smoking ban to include e-cigs so they'd be illegal in just about every public place. I can sort of understand objecting to them indoors, I guess, because there is a scent to the vapor that might bother someone (though I think by that logic we should ban perfume too) but to make them illegal in open-air venues, parks, beaches, etc. is excessive.

 

[okeydokey]

I agree completely. Most places that do not allow smoking DO allow e-cigs. And unless it is posted that they are not allowed, there probably wasn't much a cop or security could do anyway. A

New policies are a bit behind. It's only a matter of time and they will not be allowed in most public places (IMO).

 

[luvsJack]

New policies are a bit behind. It's only a matter of time and they will not be allowed in most public places (IMO).

The places that I know of personally, made the bans after the e-cigs became popular and have not banned them. But many of these are property bans (or campus) and the e-cigs are only used outside of the buildings.

I do think that anyone using an e-cig should only do so outside. What I don't think should happen is that they get the same ban from properties that tobacco products have gotten.

Honestly, until there is proof that they are hurting those around them, I don't see how an absolute ban will happen.