by Sara Sidery –

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) –E-cigarette users now have fewer places to vape in Elizabethtown after the city expanded its smoking ban for the first time in 12 years.At the Lincoln Trail District Health Department, doctors advised the city to expand its smoking ordinance to include e-cigarettes.

“I think it’s stupid,” said e-cig user Stephen Dotson. “Because (vaping) is nothing bad.”

It’s the first time the city has changed its smoking ban in 12 years.

“Twelve years ago, e-cigarettes weren’t a thing,” said Donny Gill, Public Information Officer for Elizabethtown. “So we knew we needed to revise that to catch up with where things are, as far as how people are using tobacco.”

The new law adds e-cigarettes to the existing smoking ban, which prohibits smoking in public places, like stores, restaurants, sporting areas and within 15 feet of building entrances.

“I don’t really have a problem with it, personally,” said Sean Sluder, who manages Vapor Lab on Dixie Highway. “We, as a business, have always kind of expressed to people that it might be rude to vape in a private business or a restaurant or something like that. We don’t really approve of that anyway, just from a politeness standpoint.”

Despite the new restriction, Vapor Lab doesn’t expect to see any sales evaporate.

“As long as we can continue to do our business as usual here, without any exemptions or anything like that, I don’t have a problem with it all,” Sluder said.

Those who violate the ordinance could be fined $50.

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