If you are a smoker, you will know very well that the laws about where you can and can’t smoke tobacco cigarettes are pretty clear – it’s banned in the majority of workplaces and in pubs, bars and restaurants. However, the rules around the use of electronic cigarettes are a little less clear. Now that’s mostly due to a lack of knowledge around vaping, leading to public places being overly cautious or unclear on their policies and causing much confusion for potential users. So we thought we’d shed a little light on the subject for you, clear it up a little.

Unfortunately there isn’t a definitive law on where you can and cannot vape, which means that it’s up to the individual establishment or organisation to determine its own rules and preferences.

Safe To Vape

Can I vape in restaurants, clubs and bars?
Big brand restaurants and chains seem to be a lot less accepting, while local restaurants on the whole tend not to have an issue with them.

Similarly, larger group-owned bars and pubs are more likely to ask you to stop vaping on their premises than smaller ones, though clubs seem to be more open-minded, allowing the use of e-cigarettes more often than not. It’s also good for public awareness that vape bars seem to be appearing across the country as somewhere vapers can enjoy a social experience with like-minded others.

Can I vape on a cultural day out?
Museums, cinemas and galleries are less accommodating – most of the biggest and most well known have blanket bans on vaping as part of their smoking policy, though we have no idea why.

Can I vape in the workplace?
That is completely up to the individual office you work in. Some will undoubtedly ban the use of e-cigarettes through a lack of understanding, but the more enlightened boss will allow them because it means fewer employees sneaking off for a cigarette break. Of course, the health benefits of vaping over smoking are enormous – helping someone to quit will improve their health, leading to fewer sick days; is cheaper, leading to less money-related stress; and improves stamina and concentration, leading to greater productivity – all good reasons for bosses to allow vaping in the workplace.

Can I vape on public transport?
Some yes, some no. MerseyRail and Heathrow Connect allowing vaping, while Northern Rail and CrossCountry prohibit it. The best thing to do is to check a service’s website prior to travel, or simply ask a guard when you’re about to board to prevent any confusion.

Can I vape at 30,000ft?
The worst excuse for banning vaping goes to airlines who excuse the ban on vaping on British Airways, Virgin, Ryanair, Easyjet and KLM flights by saying that it might confuse smokers into believing that they can light up in-flight!

Sorry to have not made this much clearer for you; it’s just that until there are clear national laws about vaping, such overreaction to the unknown is likely to continue. It’s not all bad –there are still plenty of public places where you’re allowed to vape, but you just have to be selective where you wish to spend your money! However, despite the obvious uncertainly about the public perception of vaping, it is exploding here in the UK, helping smokers to quit gradually and save money while doing so. With the average 20-a-day smoker able to save in excess of £200 a month, and fewer people than ever with money to burn, the popularity, and ultimately the acceptance of vaping, is only likely to rise.

If you discover a venue that allows Vaping please use the image above & Tweet us at @TheLondonVapeCo mentioning the #SafeToVape hashtag. Let's add to this blog on Venues that Allow vaping!

Have a great evening!