Skip to main content

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

Last Updated: Mar 26, 2021, 10:13:01 PM

How Old Do You Have to Be To Vape?

As of December 2019, the federal legal age for purchasing and using vape products in the U.S. was raised to 21. States may have additional regulations, making it crucial for vapers to understand local laws. For more detailed insights, consider reading the full article.

How old do you have to be to buy a vape? As of December 20, 2019, federal vape age laws established that the legal age to vape and buy vaping products in all states is 21. The answer seems simple. However, a more complete explanation about the legal age to vape, the vape age to buy a vape, and the way to buy vape juice in each state can be found by breaking down rules and regulations by state. Before the new law, the federal minimum vape age was 18. Also, 18 was the minimum age to buy vapor products in 31 states. Do the more recent federal laws override state laws? Good question.

Congress passed the minimum 21 vaping age law, signed by the President. So, technically, federal electronic cigarette laws must be followed in every state. However, keeping track of the legal age to vape is not that simple. State and local law enforcement agencies often do not actively pursue federal law enforcement.

The United States Congress passed the vaping age law after the FDA released new vape laws, including a minimum legal vaping age of 21. The FDA was responding to concerns about the dangers of vaping, raising questions about what the legal age for vaping should be. A mysterious vape lung illness called EVALI by the CDC was caused by vitamin E acetate in THC drug oils. This quickly led to national panic, forcing the FDA to react. At the beginning, e-cigs and vaping were blamed for the outbreak, causing vaping to come under attack from every direction.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Vape?

The Trump administration signed a vaping age law on December 20, 2019, making the minimum age limit to vape 21 years old. Whether you ask how old you have to buy a vape or how old you have to be to own a vape, the answer on both counts is 21. In more formal language, you must be 21 to buy or possess electronic cigarette products. These vape age laws in the US are among the strictest vape laws in the world. So why is 21 the best legal age to vape to discourage nicotine addiction?

According to research, 95% of adult nicotine users started before age 21. Therefore, lawmakers theorize that increasing the legal age to vape and buy vapor products in America to 21 can reduce nicotine dependence for the next generation.

Is Vaping Considered A Tobacco Product?

The FDA possesses a broad and sweeping definition of tobacco products. Obviously, e-cigs with nicotine are considered tobacco products. But so are the vape batteries used in e-cig mods. Also, the battery chargers for your e-cig kits and pod vape systems are considered tobacco products.

The legal age to buy vaping devices without nicotine is the same as the legal vaping age. As mentioned above, the definition of a tobacco product encompasses the full range of vapor products. In addition, the vape device itself is considered a tobacco product. Therefore, using any device requires the user to be of legal vaping age, nicotine or not.

What Substances Can Be Vaped?

E-liquid with or without nicotine can be vaped. But there is more to vaping than nicotine. Cannabis and CBD vapes are now standard across the U.S.

Vape Laws By State

In addition to federal regulations, each state still has its individual vape age laws. As a result, the general shape of vaping age regulations remains a constantly changing mess. As a result, vaping laws can differ from one block to the next in the United States, never mind state-by-state vape laws and the legal age to vape in each!

The guide to vaping laws by the state will provide the most up-to-date answers available. Listing vape laws by the state does not necessarily include all municipal and county vaping age laws and regulations. In addition, individual towns and cities often have additional vape age limits or other e-cigarette regulations.

State Laws

Here are some examples of state regulations:

  • Alabama: You must be 19 to purchase vape devices. Emergency medical providers and daycare workers can't use vape products while working.
  • California: You must be 21 years old to purchase vapes unless you're in the active military, in which case the age requirement is 18.
  • Florida: You must be 18 years old to purchase vape products. In addition, vapes are not allowed in care-providing indoor spaces, facilities, and vehicles.

State By State Vaping Regulations

This is the most comprehensive list of state-by-state vaping age regulations. We update our legal age to vape list constantly. Please understand that we cannot track every local ordinance impacting vapor products. The regulatory environment is wild and unpredictable. Seldom are vape laws enacted based on reason and consultation.

If you would like to let us know about any new vaping age regulations in your area, contact us and let us know.

VaporFi Contributor

Jackson Hendricks

General Vape Expert

VaporFi's in-house expert on the latest vape trends and guidelines. Keep up with Jackson’s posts to stay updated with vape devices and regulations alike...

Read More >>

You May Also Like

Sale
Vaporesso ECO Nano Mesh Pod - 2 Pack

$6.99 $9.99 Save $3.00
Sale
Freemax X1 Mesh Replacement Coil - 5 Pack

$7.99 $11.99 Save $4.00
Sale
SMOK TFV18 Coils (3 Pack)

$10.99 $16.95 Save $5.96
Sale
GeekVape Zeus Z Coils (5 Pack)

$12.95 $13.95 Save $1.00
Sale
Freemax Kanthal Triple Mesh Coil - 3 pack

$14.95 $17.95 Save $3.00
Sale
Vaporesso XROS Series Pod - 4 Pack

$10.99 $13.99 Save $3.00