The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Debra Kolste, the representative of Assembly District 44, would like Wisconsin to add electronic smoking devices to the indoor smoking bans. Meanwhile, three electronic smoking device shops have opened in Stevens Point within the past two years.
Mossity Vapes is owned by 21-year-old Gaven Moss, a resident of the area since preschool. He and his employees want the community to know they agree with electronic smoking being inappropriate in certain situations.
“It makes me mad when I see people vaping in a restaurant by kids,” Moss said. “I think that if you’re at a bowling alley or a bar, and they don’t have a problem with it, then you should be able to.”
Stevens Point Vapor on Isadore St. in Stevens Point. Photo courtesy of Stevens Point Vapor’s Facebook page.
Jordan Lubecke, a volunteer employee, said it is important to remember smokers are not trying to use these devices everywhere.”Obviously we have to be courteous for other people,” he said. “I know if I wasn’t a vaper, I wouldn’t want huge clouds of smoke in my face.”
Students on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point were reluctant to give their opinions, except for one student who has a personal connection to the smoking controversy.”I guess I understand why, but I mean personally my parents smoke. I have been trying to get them to go on the e-cigarettes,” said first-year student Danielle Leslie.Leslie is not bothered by people smoking indoors at a restaurant or school.
“I can understand more like hospitals and nursing homes, but I feel like with a regular public place, it’s not that big of a deal,” she said.
Signs within businesses can prohibit vapor smokers.
“I think that restaurants should just put a sign out and say that vaping is prohibited here; that’s all people really need to do,” Moss said. “If they don’t want you to vape and have a sign out, then you legally can’t vape.”
Emily Margeson
Contributor
emarg634@uwsp.edu
