Indoor E-Cigarette Smoking Now Banned in Chicago

By Dan Lambert 

The Chicago City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday that will place the same restrictions on e-cigarettes that currently exist for more traditional tobacco products. 

The Council voted 45-4 to regulate the increasingly popular cigarette alternatives as a tobacco product pending additional regulations from the Food and Drug Administration. 

What does that mean for e-cigarette smokers? 

• E-cigaretts cannot be sold to minors. 

• They must be placed behind the counters of stores in which they are sold. 

• You can no longer smoke e-cigarettes in restaurants, sporting venues or  anywhere else cigarettes are banned. 

• Sellers must now be licensed. 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been a vocal advocate of placing restrictions on the devices. 

“I applaud City Council in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of Chicago’s youth as we continue the fight against Big Tobacco,” Emanuel said in a statement. “Regulating e-cigarettes will protect our children from getting hooked on their kid-friendly flavors and marketing. This ordinance stand up for our children while ensuring all residents have the right to clean air and healthy environment." 

Those in favor of the additional regulations point to studies that demonstrate e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco are increasingly being used by young people. 

Los Angeles and New York City recently passed similar ordinances. 

Should e-cigarettes be regulated the same as regular cigarettes?