Sugar Land bans vaping where smoking is prohibited

The use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices is now banned anywhere smoking is prohibited in the city of Sugar Land.



The city adopted an ordinance on Sept. 17 re-defiining what smoking means.



Smoking means: (1) inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted tobacco product, or (2) inhaling, exhaling, or carrying any heated e-cigarette.



Tobacco bar means a bar in which the on-site sales or rental of tobacco products and smoking accessories (including e-cigarettes) for consumption or use on the premises exceeds 20 percent of gross revenues and into which entry is restricted to individuals 21 years of age and above.



Any person found guilty of violating this ordinance will be fined not more than $500 for each offense.



Sugar Land used the opportunity provided by the 86th Legislative session’s Senate Bill 21 to make this change.



The state law increased the age limit for smoking from 18 to 21, but the bill did not re-define smoking to include e-cigarettes.



However, other cities have adopted similar ordinances. Missouri City in 2016 expanded smoking regulations to include e-cigarattes, after Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition approached the city council to ban e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is prohibited.



In Sugar Land, credit for this ordinance goes to Dulles High School student and Youth Sector Representative for Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition, Mehul Mittal.



Mital requested the amendment, bringing his concerns to the attention of Sugar Land City Councilman Himesh Gandhi. Gandhi ultimately proposed the changes to the city’s ordinance, which were adopted in September of 2019.



“The adoption to amend the smoking ordinance to include e-cigarettes will protect our youth and communities from the dangers of vaping and its related health consequences,” said FBCPC Coalition Coordinator Payal Patani.



