Lincoln, Lancaster County Could Restrict E-Cigarette Use

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Board of Health supported the addition of e-cigarette and vaping use to Lincoln’s indoor smoking ban Tuesday.

The addition would not completely ban the use of e-cigarettes and vape products, but would limit where they can be used in public.

“The idea that it’s harmless water vapor is completely false," said Christina Hitz, the Public Health Education Supervisor at the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department. "It’s an actually an aerosol, and it contains fine-metal particulates, toxins, carcinogens and nicotine.”

The Board of Health endorsed the addition of e-cigarettes to keep public air clean and safe, Hitz said.

Adding e-cigarettes to the smoking ban would apply to public places such as vape bars. Lincoln initially banned smoking in public places in 2004.

The Lancaster Board of Commissioners also supported the addition of e-cigarettes and city legislation could be presented in the next few months, according to Hitz.