Vape Sales to Minors Increased Last Year, Despite I.D. Laws

Jan. 7, 2021, 3:50 p.m. ·

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Photo Courtesy of the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department.

A new report from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department says annual vapor product sales to minors have increased over the past two years.


Annual vapor compliance checks are a combined effort between the local health officials, police, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. In 2020, underage volunteers for the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department made 52 attempts to buy vapor products: 13.5% of the time, they were successful. That’s up 7.25% from the year before.

Public health educator Sophia Yelkin said it is important to note that there are resources for youth to quit vaping.

“E-cigarette use is generally a nicotine product, and therefore there is addiction," she explained. "And you want to treat it that way and make sure that people have the opportunity to quit.”

Yelkin said retailers must check I.D.s of those purchasing vapor products and train their staff to do so correctly. The Department sent out a letter to retailers in September reminding them to do so.

If you're 16 or older and looking to quit smoking and vaping, you can call the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-Quit-Now.