Smoking onstage and its alternatives

Depending on your venue, audience and local laws, producing a script that requires that characters smoke can be problematic. Where smoking is prohibited in public places it is sometimes allowed in stage performances, but audiences may still not accept it or approve. Some audience members may be sensitive to smoke, and some venues, such as schools, may not allow smoking under any circumstances.  What to do? The Geeks discuss the question of smoking onstage and some available alternatives.