Age 21.
On January 1, 2016, Hawai‘i becomes the first state in the nation to raise the legal age to purchase or consume tobacco products to 21. This is a crowning achievement for the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i, and our many wonderful partners.
As the brain is developing, it is much more susceptible to addiction. With 95% of all tobacco users beginning while under 21 years of age, this new law could have real impact on our youth smoking rates. It also could impact youth use of electronic smoking devices (ESDs; also called e-cigarettes), which are included under the Age 21 requirement as well as a second law going into effect January 1, 2016.
Smoke-Free Laws.
Clean Indoor Air
After years of protecting local communities with local ordinances, Hawai‘i passed a statewide clean indoor air law in 2006, making it the 18th state to go smoke-free. The law prohibits smoking in all indoor and partially enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars, office buildings, workplaces and public places.
More About Hawaii’s Clean Indoor Air Law
Hawai‘i is now recognized as one of the leading states actively protecting people’s right to breathe air free of tobacco smoke in workplaces and public places. Read Governor Lingle’s 2006 statement.
In the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control Report Card, Hawai‘i receives an A for our smoke-free air protections:
Smoke-Free Beaches + More
Polling shows that nearly 8 in 10 Hawai‘i voters support statewide smoke-free beaches and parks. While public support is there, the laws are less than consistent across the islands. Currently, all parks and most beaches prohibit smoking. Smoking at bus stops is prohibited in Maui County and in Honolulu. Click below for more details.
Beaches
Smoke-Free Beach Laws in Hawai`i:
- Hawai‘i County (Big Island) parks and beaches went smoke free in 2008, [Hawai‘i County Code 14-21b]. Expanded to include electronic smoking devices in 2015.
- All Oahu County parks and beaches are smoke free. [ROH 41-21.3 amended by Bill 25 (2013) CD2 RD 1]. Exceptions: Honolulu county golf courses are excluded.
- Maui county parks and beaches are now smoke free. [Maui County Code 13.040.20 amended by Ord 4120].
Resources for Smoke-Free Beaches
Bus Stops
Currently, Honolulu and Maui County prohibit smoking at bus stops. We will be working with our coalitions on the Big Island and Kauai to protect all who take the bus from being subjected to secondhand smoke while waiting for the bus.
Parks
All parks in the state of Hawai‘i are 100% smoke-free.
E-CIGARETTES
The 2016 U.S. Surgeon General’s report on electronic cigarettes tells us what we all feared: e-cigarettes pose a serious threat to the health of kids and young adults. The report lays out why it is critical that we do everything possible to mitigate use by young people. As of January 2016, electronic smoking devices are now included under Hawaii’s clean indoor air law, which prohibits e-cigarette use just about everywhere that tobacco smoking is prohibited. In Hawai‘i, we will be working to increase the tax on e-cigarettes and the nicotine liquid they use. We will also be working to prohibit online sales to Hawai‘i residents and to address the reckless marketing strategies that mimic tobacco company marketing tactics aimed at youth.
Smoke-Free Vehicles
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even a single breath of it can trigger a host of conditions and can be deadly to those with heart conditions. In vehicles, we know that secondhand smoke is so concentrated that it can be ten times as toxic, even with the windows down. While adults should be able to make choices about their own health, no one has the right to put a child’s health at risk. In Hawai‘i, the Big Island currently prohibits smoking in vehicles when anyone under 18 is present, and Kaua‘i prohibits it when anyone 13 and under is present. We have a ways to go towards protecting all our keiki statewide!