Vaping

Introduction
Anatomy of a vape
Risks of vaping
Vaping to quit smoking and other tobacco use
Vape and vaping regulation
Who vapes?
Kids, teens, and vaping
Pros
- Pro 1: Vaping can help adults quit smoking cigarettes.
- Pro 2: Vaping is a safer way to ingest nicotine than smoking cigarettes.
- Pro 3: Vaping can lower health care costs.
Cons
- Con 1: Vaping has serious health risks.
- Con 2: Vapes can catch fire and explode.
- Con 3: Disposable vapes are bad for the environment.
U.S. state and territory vaping regulations
International vaping bans and regulations
Timeline: FDA action on vapes
- August 8, 2016: FDA begins regulating vapes as tobacco products
- July 12, 2019: Court ruling requires new product applications for all vaping products
- September 11, 2019: President Trump plans to end flavored vape sales
- September 9, 2021: FDA denies almost one million applications for vaping products
- October 12, 2021: FDA authorizes Vuse e-cigarette and cartridges
- June 23, 2022: FDA orders Juul to stop selling all products in the United States
- September 6, 2022: Juul settles lawsuits with states and Puerto Rico
- February 22, 2023: FDA files civil money complaints against four manufacturers
- March 15, 2023: FDA completes reviewing most of the applications submitted in 2020
- May 12, 2023: FDA issues marketing denial orders to 10 companies
- September 28, 2023: FDA fines 22 companies for selling unauthorized vaping products
- October 12, 2023: FDA issues marketing denial orders to R.J. Reynolds
- November 2, 2023: FDA announces drop in vape use among high-school students
- December 14, 2023: FDA announces seizure of 1.4 million unauthorized vaping products
- 2024: FDA issues warning letters to vape retailers
- June 10, 2024: Justice Department and FDA announce federal task force
- June 2024: FDA lifts Juul ban and approves four types of Njoy menthol vapes
- September 5, 2024: FDA announces drop in youth vaping
- October 30, 2024: FDA issues warning letters about vapes with smart technology designs
- December 2, 2024: U.S. Supreme Court hears FDA arguments about regulation of flavored vapes
- January 2025: FDA lists 34 lawful vapes and vaping products
- January 15, 2025: FDA proposes new maximum nicotine content rule, excludes vapes
- April 2, 2025: U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of FDA limitations
- June 20, 2025: U.S. Supreme Court rules vape retailers can seek judicial review of FDA denial
- July 17, 2025: FDA authorizes Juul vapes for market
- March 31, 2026: FDA lists civil money complaints against 7,778 companies
- May 5, 2026: FDA authorizes first fruit-flavored vapes
- May 10, 2026: FDA revises premarket authorization requirement for vapes
- May 12, 2026: FDA Commissioner resigns over change in flavored vapes policy
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Close-up of a man exhaling vapor while holding an electronic cigarette to his lips.

Is It Really Safer to Smoke E-cigarettes Instead of Tobacco?

Vaping: Media

Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?

Videos

Is It Really Safer to Smoke E-cigarettes Instead of Tobacco?

Is It Really Safer to Smoke E-cigarettes Instead of Tobacco?

Examining whether e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco cigarettes.

Video: © American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Images

Close-up of a man exhaling vapor while holding an electronic cigarette to his lips.

Vaping

Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?

© Chanakon/stock.adobe.com

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: