Where did you get the idea you're not supposed to hit on exotic dancers? Baristas? Have some tact, some discretion, some patience, don't try to figure out their shifts or engage in other stalker-like behavior, when the time comes be direct, and immediately take no for an answer.

Co-workers? Its more risky than anything, and dating superiors or subordinates is in-defensible as well as a situation to alter as quickly as possible(if you're willing to quit just to be able to ask them out, maybe it could/"should" work-out), but a peer? from another department?

Your friends not have older sisters? ... but if you just neglected to mention your friends included them in the list, they sound like jerks. Are all your friends going to ditch you because you dated one friends' cousin or whatever? I'll say this: friends that would rather not end up related to you, aren't friends, and such acquaintences aren't entitled to strong opinions on your love-life either, unless the sister in-question really is just too young(and legality is far from all that counts here) for a person your age.

Too many people screw up by thinking of dating as transactional, but also too many think of pursuing opportunities only in terms of what they can chase without risk, without even potentially sacrificing anything they have. Women can pick up on such inclinations, and while they may not be right to confuse them with insincerity or disinterest, they will, and its not a measure of their "worth" or anything either.

Basically, you need to demonstrate up-front that you are willing to make (reputational)"legitimacy" possible when/where there are such issues to deal with, that you are serious, but also that you will take no for an answer and never bring it up again.

If you don't feel strongly enough about a given woman to see sense in my advice, by all means, don't waste her time. Outside of such issues, the world is your oyster. Bars, pool-halls, apps, on-line, gaming, networking, volunteer work, etc.

Last random thought; Make more friends. Wherever you look for women, look first to make more friends you hadn't considered hanging-out with previously. Don't manipulate anyone: be up-front that you are single and looking for a woman, but for anyone who is willing to hang-out and share their interests with you and you can join them safely, until you are married and/or otherwise unable to be a good friend, what do you have to do that's really any better? The more people you meet, inside and outside of the "meet a stranger" settings, and the less thirsty you are, the more likely you are to meet an attractive single woman who might like you.

By all means, invite an existing friend, workmate, or family member along at first for safety, but don't approach it as trying to expand your "friend group" - you don't have to introduce everybody to everyone and/or try to get them to get-along. Accepting everyone you can as individuals will go a long way to helping you find and keep a meaningful, serious, romantic/adult relationship.