E-cigarette use and popularity is on the rise, but smoking an e-cig (known as vaping) is not yet so common that if you pull one out, those around you will know what it is or what you're doing sucking on a stick with a blue light.

Currently, there aren't many laws in effect that regulate the use of e-cigarettes. They've been known to blow up from time to time, but it should be noted that it isn't the fault of the e-cigarette if you match it with the wrong charger. France is looking to ban them, Hong Kong has banned them outright, and in the United States, California is looking to create similar laws banning smoking e-cigs in the same places as regular cigarettes.

All of this is fine and well; vape here, can't vape there, but what the e-cigarette smoker really needs to understand are the nine laws of “e-cigarettiquette” that come along with the habit/hobby/addiction regardless of current regulation.

These laws come from the two years of vaping experience I've put under my belt as an e-cigarette user. I was a cigarette smoker for years and so far believe choosing e-cigarettes over cigarettes is the far better option. That said, e-cigs are still not widely accepted in the public eye and there haven't been may tests as to their safety, so until such a time comes where more is known, treat vaping almost as you would treat smoking a cigarette. But do enjoy the fact that you're no longer blowing smelly puffs of smoke into people's faces and that you're likely not doing yourself as much harm vaping as you would be smoking.





Graphic by Mike Nudelman.