Eating out as a Vegan, a tier list
Veganism is a broad church with some of us doing it for different reasons. I don't think people have to pick a reason and cleave to that, as if someone is only vegan for health reasons. Most of us are more complicated.
- Animal rights. This is the belief that animals are sentient creatures with basic rights just as humans automatically have human rights. Some of us don't place animals on an equal level with humans but this reason for being vegan is based on logic. All of the reasons for arguing that humans should have rights and animals shouldn't fall apart under scrutiny. (Eg animals can't speak is not a good reason because a) it's arguable (dolphins) and b) some humans can't speak but that doesn't mean we can eat them!).
- Animal welfare. An emotionally based reaction to the cruelty behind the meat, milk and eggs that appears on people's plates.
- Health. Some people find themselves functioning better on a vegan diet and eat this way because of that without regards to other reasons. This may be because of an allergy or reaction to dairy or meat and because it's easier to say "vegan" than "basically plant-based but I can eat eggs and prawns" or whatever.
- Environment. Eating higher up the food chain takes a heavy toll on the planet. In Brazil the rain forests are being cut down as I write to make way for beef ranching, just as they have for the last 4 decades.
For most vegans we quite happily embrace all four reasons. But our dining choices don't necessarily support these causes equally.
Tier 1: Fully vegan businesses. These tend to have mushroomed up in metropolis and are slowly, and at considerable risk, starting up in towns like [Plymouth](https://www.happycow.net/reviews/samphire-brasserie-plymouth-38330). If you're serious about the vegan cause support these places, especially when they've just opened, and get them to survive. In addition to the commercial agenda these places put vegan diners at the lowest risk of contamination.
Tier 2: Vegan friendly independents. I have a theory that independent restaurants trying their best to provide for their vegan customers take more care for us. Generally when I've eaten in such places I quite often get asked about ingredients and you can see the chef trying to work out how best to make, say, a vegan Irish coffee (which I had on Saturday), taking the care and trouble to respect our diet. Here's [an example](https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/08d9c953-a205-49f9-81df-640253b5cacf/downloads/1cq6qbdeg_705447.pdf?ver=1568234143553) we went to on Saturday that I'd recommend.
Tier 3. Vegan options at large chains. This is still well within my zone for being fine places to eat out. I love the vegan wraps at Subway and I'm very much looking forward to the Domino's around the corner from me acquiring a vegan option some time later this year.
Tier 4. Unethical places. McDonalds were one of the main drivers behind ranching in Brazil. I went leafleting about this in the 80s before many people were aware. Burger King's "plant-based" burger which contains meat juices and egg is for me cynically cashing in on the fashionability of veganism without in any way respecting our philosophy. Ymmv and make your own list if you disagree with the two I've picked out but I would feel dirty as a vegan going to one of these restaurants and helping them grow their cynical meat-based empires.