COLUMBUS—In Columbus, the "no-smoking" sign could soon apply to more than just cigarettes, cigars and pipes.
The Columbus City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved adding e-cigarettes and vape pens to the city's smoking ordinance. The proposal needs to be passed a second time, something that's expected on August 20.
In 2012, the Council passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking in all indoor businesses, including private clubs and bars. The amendment adds electronic smoking devices.
According to the proposal, an electronic smoking device means "any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor."
Smoking, as defined by the amended ordinance, "includes the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any matter or any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose or circumventing the prohibition of smoking."
Council members have become concerned over the increasing number of teenagers using e-cigarettes and vape pens.
Once given final approval, violation of the amended ordinance would carry a $50 fine.
