Vaping, smoking age in Nebraska increases to 19 on Jan. 1, with federal age of 21 by summer

Dec 31, 2019

LINCOLN — Eighteen-year-olds who smoke or vape in Nebraska have until midnight New Year’s Eve to stock up on supplies.

Starting Wednesday, a new state law will push the legal age for buying and using cigarettes and vaping products to 19.

But that new legal age will be short-lived. A federal law boosted the age to 21, with enforcement beginning this summer. That age matches the legal age for buying alcohol. Nineteen states already have set the smoking age at 21.

The federal change was tucked into a major defense spending bill signed by President Donald Trump just before Christmas. Enforcement of that law will begin 90 days after federal regulations are updated, a process that can take up to six months. For more information.