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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why are people so inconsiderate with their vapes?

312 replies

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 19/06/2026 13:49

What is it with people and their vapes? They produce these massive clouds of stinky, sweet, gross vapour and they are either blissfully unaware or they don't GAF, I don't know which.

School sports day today so a lot of the parents went to the cafe next to the school between dropping kids off and waiting for sports day to start.

I sat indoors and a few parents were outdoors, door propped open as it was a hot day.

I'm sat there, eating my breakfast and suddenly, a huge cloud of stinky strawberry vapour that's been inside someone's manky lungs descends over me and my food. I could taste it in my mouth 🤮

I looked over and it's a dad sat just outside with his back to the door, his vape clouds going behind him and straight inside the cafe.

I moved seats and no more clouds descended on me but I had made a mental note to either say something or passively-aggressively close the door, not sure which I would have done.

Then later I am standing by the track on the school field ready to cheer my daughter on and right in front of me, a vape cloud desends again, this time from another dad in front of me.
On the school field.
At sports day. In a three-person deep crowd of parents, some with toddlers.
This time I am pissed off so I went and told the headteacher who was stood at the side and he announced over the tannoy that vaping is not allowed on school premises. I mean, who does that??!?

As it may be apparent, this is more of a rant than a AIBU, but I am curious why people this this behaviour is OK?

Unreasonable - They are just gormless and don't realise what they are doing
Not unreasonable - They must know, because it's obvious, but they are so addicted to their stinky plastic puff pens that they don't care.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
mylifeisexams · 24/06/2026 02:26

YANBU at all OP. It’s a disgusting habit and people who do it just look a bit stupid frankly.

i can’t imagine the type of cretin who would do this at a school sports day. Well done for telling the head teacher!

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 23:02

famousfiveoutfortheday · 23/06/2026 21:20

Nope, sorry Smile I’m only using an aspire nautilus GT and an eleaf Ipower at 9w

Haha no Big Clouds from you then!

famousfiveoutfortheday · 23/06/2026 21:20

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 19:27

Uh oh! Are you about to prove me wrong?

The question is, do you Blow Big Clouds In People's Faces?

Nope, sorry Smile I’m only using an aspire nautilus GT and an eleaf Ipower at 9w

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 19:53

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 19:27

Uh oh! Are you about to prove me wrong?

The question is, do you Blow Big Clouds In People's Faces?

Because the guy in the op was not doing that, he was outside where he was supposed to be, presumably facing away from the cafe door, and his vape blew back in and into op's open-hanging mouth.

It was mildly inconsiderate of him not to move further away from the door but mostly it was an unfortunate accident of weather and strange cafe design.

We're all a bit inconsiderate at times, there's nothing special about vapers. It's not deliberate and mostly we don't notice because by definition we're not considering others but none of us go round hyperaware of the effects of our actions on others at every moment - that would be insane. We all piss other people off in small ways we're never aware of on a daily basis.

Yet op's AIBU is, are vapers specifically shit in way a) or way b) and for that reason I could not vote even though she is being very unreasonable.

Vapers are not shit. The vast vast majority of them have either managed to stop smoking by vaping, often after decades of failed attempts, or are vaping to cut down and mitigate the harm as much as they are able. They are doing a wonderful thing for their health and the health of those around them and I salute them all Flowers

And like everyone else they can be inconsiderate at times. We're all a bunch of wankers - it's the human condition.

Flamingojune · 23/06/2026 19:50

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/06/2026 17:19

Do you drive or ride around in cars that puff out large clouds of noxious vapours directly into the faces of children?

Thats also awful i agree but plenty of people do neither

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 19:27

famousfiveoutfortheday · 23/06/2026 17:07

Thank goodness Pencils is here, I was about to send up the bat signal. Sorry, cloud of vape
I started on 18mg back in the clearo days and now buy high strength nic and shortfalls to mix my own (dunno the strength but I add about 7ml high strength nicotine to 60ml)
keeps me off the cigs

Uh oh! Are you about to prove me wrong?

The question is, do you Blow Big Clouds In People's Faces?

Aninkling · 23/06/2026 19:20

Yes, I'll go back to the cafe.

and sit away from the directly in front of the door if possible!

Aninkling · 23/06/2026 19:20

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 19:11

Why do you want to know if I know the vaper?

No, I don't, only by sight as someone who picks up from the school. I couldn't tell you who his kid is, or even what year they are in.

Yes, I'll go back to the cafe. It wasn't their fault and it's convenient and it's usually not very busy at school run time. It was this time because lots of parents had the same idea as me, to use it as a place to pass time between drop-off and sports day.

But there's also a very nice coffee shop that's just opened over the road, so maybe not.

These don't seem like particularly relevant questions?

Edited

It’s mumsnet
so the chance there was an existing beef with another school parent? High
hence asking

Aninkling · 23/06/2026 19:19

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 19:17

There was none, that's exactly why they stopped it.

It was the same in airports. I once had to sleep over in an airport aged 14. The only seats available were in the smoking area, I had to sit there in a chair, trying to sleep, surrounded by smoke. Grim.

grim
but not inconsiderate given you were in the smoking area

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 19:17

ThatJadeLion · 23/06/2026 19:15

Just popped into my head, doesn't seem that long ago if you booked a reservation for a meal, they would always ask.. smoking or non smoking. But no matter where you were sitting there was often smoke everywhere!! Just what was the point!

There was none, that's exactly why they stopped it.

It was the same in airports. I once had to sleep over in an airport aged 14. The only seats available were in the smoking area, I had to sit there in a chair, trying to sleep, surrounded by smoke. Grim.

OP posts:
ThatJadeLion · 23/06/2026 19:15

Just popped into my head, doesn't seem that long ago if you booked a reservation for a meal, they would always ask.. smoking or non smoking. But no matter where you were sitting there was often smoke everywhere!! Just what was the point!

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 19:12

ByLemonLeader · 23/06/2026 18:33

The proudly inconsiderate vapers on here who are happy to just let their stinky fumes blow straight into people's faces, have the exact same vibe as those people who splash pedestrians with puddles.

Yes, they do.

OP posts:
MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 19:11

Aninkling · 23/06/2026 18:55

Did you know the vaper from school @MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes ?

will you ever go back to the cafe??!

Why do you want to know if I know the vaper?

No, I don't, only by sight as someone who picks up from the school. I couldn't tell you who his kid is, or even what year they are in.

Yes, I'll go back to the cafe. It wasn't their fault and it's convenient and it's usually not very busy at school run time. It was this time because lots of parents had the same idea as me, to use it as a place to pass time between drop-off and sports day.

But there's also a very nice coffee shop that's just opened over the road, so maybe not.

These don't seem like particularly relevant questions?

OP posts:
Lovelynames123 · 23/06/2026 19:01

Ex smoker here, very considerate, would never have smoked where it affected someone else...papers are worse, and they vape far more often than people smoke, and in far more places. I also find it gross and antisocial

Aninkling · 23/06/2026 18:55

Did you know the vaper from school @MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes ?

will you ever go back to the cafe??!

ByLemonLeader · 23/06/2026 18:33

The proudly inconsiderate vapers on here who are happy to just let their stinky fumes blow straight into people's faces, have the exact same vibe as those people who splash pedestrians with puddles.

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 18:03

Anarchy99 · 23/06/2026 18:01

I feel that way about people who have garlic coming out of every pore

OK?

SO do I 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 18:02

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/06/2026 17:19

Do you drive or ride around in cars that puff out large clouds of noxious vapours directly into the faces of children?

Nope, I do not.

But regardless, whataboutism is not a valid argument against something.

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 23/06/2026 18:01

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 16:30

Yes, they are.

Quite honestly, whether they are healthy or not isn't my issue. Grown adults can do whatever they like to their own bodies. Not for me to judge.

It's when people use them selfishly and inconsiderately that I'm bothered by them.

They do "blow big clouds in my face". I am not imagining them, and clearly, if it's happening enough for enough people to mention it enough that it ends up on some condescending bingo card, then it's not just me.

I just don't understand the mentality of people that are OK with doing that to another person.

If I walked around puffing out big clouds of stinking vapour and one of them blew into the face of another person minding their own business, I'd be mortified and very apologetic.

I know that there are plenty of considerate vapers who do not do this. There's just also far too many that do, unfortunately.

I feel that way about people who have garlic coming out of every pore

Ponderingwindow · 23/06/2026 17:52

Vapes contain aerosolized flavorings that are allergens to some people. Imagine walking around and intentionally spraying peanut dust into the air around other people. That is what vaping does.

A cigarette is honestly less immediately dangerous for me even though it will trigger an asthma attack, it won’t also cause an allergic reaction.

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/06/2026 17:19

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 16:30

Yes, they are.

Quite honestly, whether they are healthy or not isn't my issue. Grown adults can do whatever they like to their own bodies. Not for me to judge.

It's when people use them selfishly and inconsiderately that I'm bothered by them.

They do "blow big clouds in my face". I am not imagining them, and clearly, if it's happening enough for enough people to mention it enough that it ends up on some condescending bingo card, then it's not just me.

I just don't understand the mentality of people that are OK with doing that to another person.

If I walked around puffing out big clouds of stinking vapour and one of them blew into the face of another person minding their own business, I'd be mortified and very apologetic.

I know that there are plenty of considerate vapers who do not do this. There's just also far too many that do, unfortunately.

Do you drive or ride around in cars that puff out large clouds of noxious vapours directly into the faces of children?

famousfiveoutfortheday · 23/06/2026 17:07

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 14:38

I can't remember the last time I saw a vaper making Big Clouds.

When the tobacco products directive came in it became illegal to sell nicotine liquid in strengths higher than 20mg or in bottles larger than 10ml. As a result, 'short fills' became popular - you'd buy a big bottle of zero nic flavoured juice and a 10ml bottle of max strength unflavoured nicotine and mix them together to make a big bottle of flavoured, low strength eliquid. Because it was low strength, it was generally vaped in high powered devices which chugged through gallons of the stuff, producing Big Clouds.

That all more or less seems to have stopped since disposables (now banned) and pod systems became popular. They're low powered, high strength, stealthy little things and when I notice someone vaping they're usually only producing thin little whisps.

So if I saw someone blowing out Big Clouds these days I'd probably be over there checking out their device 😂

Thank goodness Pencils is here, I was about to send up the bat signal. Sorry, cloud of vape
I started on 18mg back in the clearo days and now buy high strength nic and shortfalls to mix my own (dunno the strength but I add about 7ml high strength nicotine to 60ml)
keeps me off the cigs

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 16:40

Was he a parent at the school that you know?

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 16:39

Probably best you serve this cafe in future @MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 23/06/2026 16:30

PencilsInSpace · 23/06/2026 15:01

No, they're not.

Yes, they are.

Quite honestly, whether they are healthy or not isn't my issue. Grown adults can do whatever they like to their own bodies. Not for me to judge.

It's when people use them selfishly and inconsiderately that I'm bothered by them.

They do "blow big clouds in my face". I am not imagining them, and clearly, if it's happening enough for enough people to mention it enough that it ends up on some condescending bingo card, then it's not just me.

I just don't understand the mentality of people that are OK with doing that to another person.

If I walked around puffing out big clouds of stinking vapour and one of them blew into the face of another person minding their own business, I'd be mortified and very apologetic.

I know that there are plenty of considerate vapers who do not do this. There's just also far too many that do, unfortunately.

OP posts: