Tobacco/Vapor Sales Bans:

Retailers, including online sellers, must acquire a license to sell vapor products, which could cause many to refuse to ship to customers in the state.¹⁰

Tobacco/Vapor 21 Law: Federal law passed December 20, 2019 prohibits sales of all tobacco and vapor products to anyone under the age of 21 years old. FDA stated law became effective on that date. States may choose to continue with current age law at the risk of losing federal funding. Barrington and Central Falls already prohibit the sale of tobacco and vapor products to persons under the age of 21 years old.

Flavor Bans: Federal law prohibits the sale of closed system devices (pods, cartridges) containing e-liquid in flavors other than tobacco or menthol.

The sale of e-cigarettes in flavors other than “tobacco” flavor or unflavored is prohibited in the state. This includes both face-to-face and online sales. The law does not include tobacco (flavored cigarettes are banned at the federal level), marijuana products or other nicotine products. ¹⁰

Municipalities with their own flavor ban are Barrington, Central Falls, Johnston, Middletown, Providence and Woonsocket prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco except for certain types of retailers, such as tobacco retailers that receive a certain proportion of their revenue from tobacco, tobacco/smoking bars, e-cigarette establishments, adult-only retailers and/or liquor stores.⁹