State tobacco laws to change Jan. 1

Publication Date: 2015-12-11

• Author:Brandon Bosworth
• Publication:Ho'okele

The new year will bring major changes to Hawaii's laws relating to tobacco and nicotine.

Effective Jan. 1, 2016 the state ban on smoking in various enclosed and partially enclosed areas expands to include electronic smoking ("vaping") devices frequently known as e-cigarettes.

In addition, as of Jan. 1 Hawaii will become the first state to ban smoking for anyone under the age of 21. Senate Bill 1030 prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from buying, possessing or consuming tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and bans businesses from selling these products to those under the age of 21.