Ban On Vaping Indoors In Public Eyed By Palatine

PALATINE, IL — Vaping could face some new restrictions in Palatine as village officials consider possible ways to limit the habit because of health concerns. While no measures have been officially proposed, a ban on vaping indoors in public, as well as an increase in the age allowed to buy vaping products is being looked at, according to the Daily Herald.

The idea of a public indoor ban has been suggested by Councilman Tim Millar, and the village is researching what would be need for such an ordinance, the report stated. That information should be given to the Palatine Village Council in the next two to three months, the report added.

"I've always wondered why we haven't had it being in a restaurant where somebody was vaping. It kind of ruins the food," said Millar, who also pointed toward secondhand smoke and reports of oral cancer from vaping — the heating of liquid nicotine into an inhalable vapor with an e-cigarette — for reasons behind a potential ban.

Officials also are evaluating whether to increase the age to buy vaping products from 18 to 21, the Herald reports. If such a measure were to pass, Palatine would join other nearby communities — Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village and Vernon Hills — by enacting a 21-year-old age limit, the report added.

Separately, a village council committee last week agreed to consider raising the age to buy vaping products to 21 from 18 ahead of any possible action by the state.

A public indoor smoking ban has been on the books in Illinois since 2008, but it doesn't cover vaping. The state also considering raising the age to buy tobacco and vaping products to 21.

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