Attending a concert or music festival is an inherently social experience. You’re there to see a beloved band or musician play their captivating music, surrounded by other fans thrilled to watch the performance—so it’s best to observe proper concert etiquette, especially when it comes to smoking. Whether you’re the lucky recipient of a Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket or off to see Korean-American pop sensation Eric Nam on one of his globetrotting gigs, keep in mind that, in general, cigarettes aren’t welcome at a show. Here’s why you shouldn’t smoke at a concert and what you can use instead.
Why you shouldn’t smoke at a concert
The first reason you shouldn’t smoke is simple: if the concert is indoors, it’s illegal. In fact, according to the American Lung Association, 28 states have passed comprehensive laws prohibiting smoking in public places. Even if you don’t reside in one of those states, the concert venue may have rules against lighting up a cigarette—after all, it is a fire hazard. To avoid getting potentially removed by a security guard, don’t smoke.
Secondly, you can get yourself or other people sick with festival flu. This is especially common in outdoor musical festivals like Coachella, where you and other audience members are surrounded by dirt, pollen, and all kinds of irritants. Throwing cigarette smoke into the mix is only going to aggravate that. The Sacramento Bee notes that post-festival, you’ll likely experience a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and a scratchy throat, and so will have to take the time and measures to recover. If you decide to smoke, you’re boosting the chances that you or another attendee’s concert event will be marred by a sickly end.
What to use instead
Even if you’ve decided you’re willing to give up smoking for at least a night, you may be worried about withdrawal symptoms, like headaches or tremors, that could affect your concert experience. For that, you can leverage alternative nicotine products—smoke- and tobacco-free items that can help you manage withdrawal symptoms during a concert. Here are three you can consider using.
Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are packets made of food-grade fillings, nicotine, and flavorings. You put one between your gums and upper lip, and it releases nicotine into your bloodstream for up to an hour. The nicotine pouches from VELO on Prilla are aimed at all levels of smokers and come in 2mg, 4mg, and 7mg strengths. They are also available in easily hidden, extra-discreet mini-pouches you can use without disturbing your fellow concert-goers, as well as a wide range of flavors ranging from wintergreen to dragonfruit.
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum is a good choice if you want something to chew on something while attending a concert. It looks just like its normal counterpart, making it less inconspicuous than smoking a cigarette. While you don’t masticate it like you would regular chewing gum, you still bite down on it until you feel a tingle. Then, you park it between the inside of your cheeks and gums, letting the nicotine flow into your body for up to 30 minutes. The new version of nicotine gum from Nicorette is dual-coated, which makes for a smoother texture than its previous iterations.
Nicotine patches
Nicotine patches are stickers you place on your skin—perhaps under the sleeve of your concert outfit—and it delivers you a steady stream of nicotine over the course of a full day. NicoDerm nicotine patches are also waterproof, which is useful when you get sweaty cheering or dancing to upbeat songs.
Both you and your fellow attendees should enjoy a stress-free experience of watching your music idol. To ensure that, keep the concert cigarette-free and use alternatives if needed.