As restrictions are lifted and more Swedes get vaccinated against COVID-19, the doors to an event for vejpare open in Gothenburg. The first in a long time. On Saturday it's time for Casino Night at Arcane Vape.
"The idea is to be a place for vejpers to hang out and socialize without having to worry about vejping at the same time" says Quest Leite
Since 2019, the general smoking ban also applies to e-cigarettes. As you know, the smoking ban also applies to all premises open to the public. And although the Public Health Agency can grant exemptions for well-ventilated vejpshops, the ban also applies there. And this has caused problems for the shops, where it is virtually impossible to test the devices when customers need service or other assistance. Or just hang out and socialize.
"We had the opportunity to divide the store with a wall and locked door, so we created a separate room. A vejp lounge. Only members are allowed in there. They can sit and talk, fiddle with stuff and do what they need to do," says Quest Leite, who runs Arcane Vape in Gothenburg.
Free to enter with membership
On Saturday, the doors open for Vejp Lounge's first event - Casino Night. A gaming night with casino, socializing and vejpning.
"It has been an idea from the beginning. To organize events of this kind. It's free to join the association, but you have to be a member to enter the lounge," says Quest Leite.
Local vejp associations are needed
This is not the first time vejpare has formed a club in Gothenburg. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, vejpare met regularly in the GBG SteamClub. But the pandemic put a temporary stop to the business. Arcane Vape opened its doors in the middle of a pandemic, and did not expect any major influx at first. But cohesion is important, says Quest Leite. Especially when e-cigarettes and vejpning as a phenomenon are facing new laws and restrictions that could change everything.
"We need local associations - a living community. I want to be part of creating that, at least in Gothenburg. And of course it's good for the store too. We are open at the same time"
"Must get dirty"
Quest Leite and Arcane Vape have previously been current in Vejpkollen, but then in the context of the proposed the taste ban initiated by the government. Two politicians have visited shop for items in Vejpkollen. Meetings that could mean a lot in the future.
"We, as vejpar, need to get pissed off. Because our politicians are trying to kill us. They want us to smoke instead of vejpa" said Quest Leite to Vejpkollen when the store opened, in the fall of 2020.
Casino Night takes place on Saturday, July 3rd and starts at 15:00.
Lovely probably needs to become a member.
It is true, as Quest says, that some politicians and especially the fanatics in the anti-nicotine lobby are trying to kill people. They fantasize about the new pure nicotine-free human race and they would rather see people smoking, getting sick later in life and maybe dying than people using nicotine in a way that doesn't kill you and god forbid, enjoying it. Therefore, they cannot accept vejpning, snus, nicotine pills and heat-not-burn.