12 Do's And Don'ts About Smoking Cigarettes In Public
Photo cred - Glamour Queenn
Montreal is a city full of smokers, and that's totally cool, 'cuz smoking is just part of the culture. From weed, to vaps, to simple cigarettes, the people of the city smoke it all, except some of us aren't exactly the most polite smokers. There's a certain level of cigarette-iquette to follow when smoking in Montreal, and while most folks abide by the unwritten rules of smoking, others can be straight up rude.
So there is a written reference for the do's and do not's of smoking, we've compiled a guide to smoking in the city, otherwise known as a lesson in smoking etiquette. Most of these rules/suggestions have cigarettes in mind, but can easily apply to a joint, vap, or cigar if you're feeling fancy. Read on and learn some cigarette-iquette.
1. Asking for a smoke
Offering a bit of change for a cigarette goes a long way in the realm of cigarette-iquette. Something as small as fifty cents at least shows that you're willing to make an exchange, and recognize that smokes don't come cheap. Whoever you're asking will probably just give you one anyway, which leads to...
2. When asked for a smoke
As mentioned above, many people will/should offer a bit of change (or something in exchange) when asking for a cigarette, and if you want to be a well mannered smoker, you should politely decline. A dollar isn't going to make or break you, and accepting makes you look a little cheap. Best to save face and just seem totally gracious and give out the smoke at zero charge.
3. Saving a cig
When someone offers you a smoke, don't say yes, the proceed to put it away and save it for later. Even if you're just planning on using it for batch in a joint, you look like a punk. The person most likely gave you a smoke so you could have one with them, not so you could be opportunistic and have a smoke when you like. Go buy your own then.
4. Know the smoking sitch
Everyone knows you can't smoke indoors at bars and public places, but someone's home/a house party is another story. Before lighting up in someone's place of residence, its best to ask if its okay. This may seem like a "well duh" rule to follow, but to anyone who has had randos at a house party, you know that people will start smoking and give zero fvcks when drinking. Make sure the host doesn't hate you and learn the smoking sitch.
5. Ashtrays a la max
If you are a host to a party, or helping to organize one, you best be setting up ample amounts of ashtrays. Put 'em on tables and firmly placed furniture to avoid spillage, or by windows to implicitly direct smokers to post up near an open source of ventilation. Expect quite the ash-y floor the next day if you don't provide a smoking receptacle. This goes for resto/bar owners too, 'cuz any terrasse should have an ashtray on every table. What else are people sitting out there for?
6. Ashing in bottles
Another rule that mostly applies to house parties: ashing in a beer bottle is totally cool, but dumping the end of the cigarette inside is not. To avoid fruit flies from flying around the house, a host will have to wash out leftover beer bottles, which turns into a disgusting job when they have to rinse out bottles full of cigarette butts. Ash + beer rinse out pretty easy, but butts get all up in the kitchen sink, which is not a good look for a spot where you clean your dishes.
7. Pocketing lighters
We're probably all guilty of innocently stealing a lighter from a friend right after using it. It's a reflex to put a lighter in your pocket right after you use it, but when it's not your own, you're gonna seriously inconvenience the person you borrowed it off of when they need to light up next. On the other hand, if you're lending out a lighter, keep track of where it went, and watch the hands/pockets of whoever you're lending it to.
8. Be aware of your own smoke
No matter where you are, outside or indoors, just be aware of where you're smoke is going. You could be on the street waiting for the bus with a mild breeze blowing that pushes all your secondhand smoke into the face of the next person in the bus line. Happily smoking, you have no clue, while the person next to you is supremely pissed off. Just keep track of where your smoke blows so as not to make anyone angry.
9. Around kids
Don't smoke around children. Just don't do it. The young, pink, and untainted lungs of kids don't need you blackening them with your secondhand smoke. You probably already know not to do this, but be extra aware when in areas populated by children, like in parks or festivals.
10. On the bus
Don't be a drunk (or sober) asshole and light your smoke in the bus right before getting out. We get it, you want to smoke, but nobody needs to smoke that badly. Wait the 5 extra seconds 'til you get off the bus and make everyone's life a little less smoggy.
11. Non-smokers
If you're a non-smoker in a room full of smokers, suck it up or leave the room/area. Don't complain about the smog. If someone offers you a smoke and you're a non-smoker, do not get all high and mighty about how smokes are bad for you or your body is a temple or some bullshit. We all know smoking is bad for your health, its literally on all cigarette packs, and you're going to seem like a punk if you get all preachy about it.
12. On E-cigs
Vaps and e-cigs are kind of a gray area in the world of smoking they are allowed indoors in public establishments. Still, respect that some people will still not want a bunch of vap-smoke in their face or workplace, so still pay heed to all of the aforementioned rules.