Village votes to prohibit vaping indoors

Rockville Centre says to put out the electronic cigarettes. On Nov. 2, the village board of trustees approved a law that bans the demonstration, testing, use and smoking of e-cigarettes in non-residential buildings where it is the primary purpose.

This law mainly affects one store: Clean Vapor Rockville Centre, an e-cigarette business on Sunrise Highway that opened in August. While other stores in the village, such as 7-Eleven, sell e-cigarettes as a part of their business, Clean Vapor Rockville Centre only sells e-cigarettes and associated accessories — which depends on users being able to test their products before they purchase them.

“The whole problem with not allowing people to at least try it is that this is something that they have to bear with for an extended period of time,” said Clean Vapor owner John Lappas. “People don’t know if they’re going to like to inhale a flavor. They’re not going to know if a [nicotine] strength is strong enough for them.”

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that convert liquid into a vapor that users inhale — an activity often called “vaping.” There are a wide variety of e-cigarette liquid flavors, and some are nicotine-free. Other liquids have amounts of nicotine that can vary from next to nothing to that of a regular cigarette.

The minimum age for buying either e-cigarettes or regular cigarettes in Nassau County is 19. Proponents of e-cigarettes say they are a healthy alternative to traditional cigarettes and help people quit smoking, while opponents say the health benefits are uncertain and e-cigarettes can be misused.

The vote was unanimous, although Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard was not at the meeting because she was ill, according to Mayor Francis X. Murray.

Clean Vapor’s fate is uncertain. While it has been open and operating since August, it was served with a stop-work order for alterations to the drop ceiling and bathroom without a permit.