Updates To Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act Take Effect For 2020

2019 Legislation restricts vaping in public places to protect children & adults

Reno, Nev. Jan. 2, 2020. The use of vaping products or e-cigarettes will no longer be allowed at any place where smoking is not allowed in Washoe County as of Jan. 1, 2020, thanks to laws passed in during the 2019 Nevada Legislative Session.

The updates to the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act took effect Wednesday. The law was modernized to protect children and adults from secondhand aerosol from electronic vaping products in most public places and indoor places of employment.

“We’re very pleased that the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act has been modernized to protect children and adults,” said Kevin Dick, Washoe County District Health Officer. “Studies indicate that e-cigarettes do not just emit “harmless water vapor,” but typically, contain nicotine, flavoring agents, propylene glycol and toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.”

The update to the law no longer allows vaping at restaurants, bars where minors are allowed, child care facilities, theaters, arcades, malls and more. Use of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and other vaping products will only be allowed in areas of stand-alone bars where minors are prohibited, casinos, retail tobacco stores, strip clubs, brothels and convention floors at tobacco-related trade shows.

Research shows that children are among the most at-risk of secondhand e-cigarette aerosol, with one-third of students in middle school and high school saying they’ve been exposed.  Another issue is many teens believe that using vaping products and e-cigarette vapors isn’t harmful, despite overwhelming contrary evidence. According to the Center for Disease Control, 55 vaping-related deaths have been reported and more than 2,400 people have been hospitalized from using vaping products.

Studies have shown e-cigarette vapors can include ultrafine particles filled with heavy metals, nicotine and other harmful agents.

If you need help quitting smoking or vaping, resources can be found through the Washoe County Be Tobacco-Free program. Residents can call the Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Pregnant women looking to quit can join the Washoe County Baby & Me – Tobacco Free program by calling 775-328-2480.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.