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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
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Bez72 · 23/06/2026 14:03

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:58

Were you making enquiries to understand the poster’s position a bit better out of curiosity or were you making enquiries so you could be judgmental?

I certainly was feeling judged, that's why I backed off. It's absolutely none of their business and the tone was certainly judgemental.

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:59

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:58

Were you making enquiries to understand the poster’s position a bit better out of curiosity or were you making enquiries so you could be judgmental?

asking out of curiosity

but what I privately thought and didn’t post is just that really - private

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:58

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:44

Obsessed? I made a couple of enquiries because the idea of being totally chilled about my teen taking up vaping was… well intriguing to me!

Were you making enquiries to understand the poster’s position a bit better out of curiosity or were you making enquiries so you could be judgmental?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/06/2026 13:46

The cafe one I think is less bad as it sounds like the dad wasn’t on cafe premises? So maybe didn’t realise.

Vaping on the school premises during the sports day is clearly not on, and the dad should have known it wouldn’t be acceptable.

I think some people think it doesn’t smell, but it does. I personally don’t hate the smell but other people do so vapers should be more careful imo

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:44

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:42

I agree. It’s very strange that PP is so obsessed with your decision to be ok with your own daughter doing something that is perfectly legal Confused

Obsessed? I made a couple of enquiries because the idea of being totally chilled about my teen taking up vaping was… well intriguing to me!

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:44

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:42

I agree. It’s very strange that PP is so obsessed with your decision to be ok with your own daughter doing something that is perfectly legal Confused

I know right? I'm not replying to them any more, it's creeping me out and it's too hot to start letting it wind me up!

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 23/06/2026 13:43

Nah, I’m with you.

can’t stand being around vapes, vile things.

man up and have a proper cigarette. 💁🏻‍♀️

TheGreatDownandOut · 23/06/2026 13:42

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:41

I can't get over how judgemental keyboard warriors can be on here, few would be so downright nasty in real life...

I agree. It’s very strange that PP is so obsessed with your decision to be ok with your own daughter doing something that is perfectly legal Confused

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:42

Sahara123 · 23/06/2026 13:38

In my real life no one in my circle vapes, and the vast majority of them hate the smell. It’s revolting.

In your opinion, which you are entitled to, but don't have to force on everyone else!

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:41

I can't get over how judgemental keyboard warriors can be on here, few would be so downright nasty in real life...

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:41

Sahara123 · 23/06/2026 13:38

In my real life no one in my circle vapes, and the vast majority of them hate the smell. It’s revolting.

In my circle also no one vapes
but never ever had a conversation about vapers with any of them so no idea what their views are!

MissyB1 · 23/06/2026 13:40

BillieWiper · 23/06/2026 10:45

That would just mean everyone on benefits would get them for free. Which sounds fine by me but I know many on here wouldn't like that.

Yes but obviously only if it was considered a medical need.

Sahara123 · 23/06/2026 13:38

GlamorousHeifer · 19/06/2026 14:04

This has been done to death on here.
It seems mumsnetters (or at least the ones that start threads about them, hate vapes* *and vapers). IRL I don't know anyone that has a problem with them. It's almost as if when you go looking for something to complain about you will find it....

In my real life no one in my circle vapes, and the vast majority of them hate the smell. It’s revolting.

sodtheexpense · 23/06/2026 13:37

To be honest op, I agree that people are inconsiderate and there is no excuse for what you experienced it’s very anti social. However I haven’t even read this thread and already know the general bingo card phrases that will have been used - chavvy, tacky, adults sucking dummies, pathetic blah blah blah. You did it yourself in your op, you’re entitled to be annoyed but it doesn’t mean you have to be so rude and superior.

The MN attitude towards vaping is so ridiculous and over the top I find it hard to read these threads. Ultimately they are a good aid in stopping smoking which is a far worse habit. People need to get a grip.

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:33

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:26

Well if we were all the same the world would be a boring place...

Indeed. Although… I don’t think the world would be less boring or more interesting if NO parent was totally chilled about their teen children vaping.

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:26

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:23

Why?

because the idea of being totally chilled about my child vaping is… well alien to me hence me asking questions.

The idea of seeing an alcohol addiction as something akin to a caffeine addiction is also… aliens to me

Well if we were all the same the world would be a boring place...

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:23

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:18

Why the third degree @Plantchoc ? You seem uncomfortably interested in my / DD's vaping habits.

In regard to the context of this post I agree some vapers are inconsiderate, but not all. Some smokers / drivers / people walking down the road with their head in their phones are inconsiderate too...

In a regard to your ongoing questions, I don't see the point in responding to them any more, it's getting creepy to be honest!

Why?

because the idea of being totally chilled about my child vaping is… well alien to me hence me asking questions.

The idea of seeing an alcohol addiction as something akin to a caffeine addiction is also… aliens to me

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:18

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:14

So your daughter took the decision to never vape indoors at home or you asked her not to?

where do you vape when at home? Garden?

Why the third degree @Plantchoc ? You seem uncomfortably interested in my / DD's vaping habits.

In regard to the context of this post I agree some vapers are inconsiderate, but not all. Some smokers / drivers / people walking down the road with their head in their phones are inconsiderate too...

In a regard to your ongoing questions, I don't see the point in responding to them any more, it's getting creepy to be honest!

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:14

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:12

18 years without anything and now on vapes… that is a shame I imagine.
Not really, I enjoy it

Maybe peer pressure from your own daughter to join her?!
Ha! Nope, she rarely vaped around me and we both have our own minds thank you

Did you dd vape in the house before you took it up?
See above

I don’t suppose this diner thought he was “blowing it over” the OP
OK, I'll rephrase - I wouldn't vape by an open door / window and am mindful which way the wind is blowing. Having said that I'm not sure why OP sat by an open door knowing these evil vapers would be hanging around the door to ruin her meal...

So your daughter took the decision to never vape indoors at home or you asked her not to?

where do you vape when at home? Garden?

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 13:12

18 years without anything and now on vapes… that is a shame I imagine.
Not really, I enjoy it

Maybe peer pressure from your own daughter to join her?!
Ha! Nope, she rarely vaped around me and we both have our own minds thank you

Did you dd vape in the house before you took it up?
See above

I don’t suppose this diner thought he was “blowing it over” the OP
OK, I'll rephrase - I wouldn't vape by an open door / window and am mindful which way the wind is blowing. Having said that I'm not sure why OP sat by an open door knowing these evil vapers would be hanging around the door to ruin her meal...

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:08

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 11:46

Yes, I started after my daughter did. I used to smoke before I fell pregnant with her and found vaping helped me not go back onto the fags when going through some stressful times.
I'm very careful where I vape though, I certainly don't blow it over others!

I don’t suppose this diner thought he was “blowing it over” the OP

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 13:07

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 11:46

Yes, I started after my daughter did. I used to smoke before I fell pregnant with her and found vaping helped me not go back onto the fags when going through some stressful times.
I'm very careful where I vape though, I certainly don't blow it over others!

18 years without anything and now on vapes… that is a shame I imagine.

Maybe peer pressure from your own daughter to join her?!

Did you dd vape in the house before you took it up?

dizzydizzydizzy · 23/06/2026 11:49

So very many people are so inconsiderate about so many things. Vaping, smoking, noise, playing phones out loud on public transport, driving through a green man (happened to me just now - I saw car coming as I was about to step into the road) etc

Bez72 · 23/06/2026 11:46

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 11:26

Do you vape @Bez72 ?

Yes, I started after my daughter did. I used to smoke before I fell pregnant with her and found vaping helped me not go back onto the fags when going through some stressful times.
I'm very careful where I vape though, I certainly don't blow it over others!

Plantchoc · 23/06/2026 11:26

Do you vape @Bez72 ?