LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WTHR) — You have to be 18 years old to vape in Indiana, but the owners of three vape shops are raising the age you have to be to enter their stores.
The new signs outside the Fog Foundry Vapor Lounge in Lafayette, Kokomo and Frankfort now say, "MUST BE 19 TO ENTER."
That's after learning some of their products were winding up in the hands of younger teens.
"We're doing what we think is morally correct in trying to fight underage vaping," co-owner Chad Myers said.
It comes after Myers heard from relatives that some 18-year-old high school students were buying his products and reselling them to younger students, making him angry.
"It's my responsibility to make sure there are no sales to juveniles," Myers said. "Some people might argue that once it leaves the store, it's no longer my responsibility, but as a member of this community and a father, it is my responsibility."
Since Myers and co-owner Shawn Cuzzort raised the age restriction three days ago, they've received a lot of feedback, both positive and negative.
"Surprisingly, the backlash has not come from those affected by the change," Myers said. "It has come from people 25 to 50-year-olds saying it's an 18-year-olds right to do this and that."
One customer said, "I get what he's doing. I think it's great, but a lot of people are upset with it."
Daulton Hall, 23, said, "It's the same as if you're buying cigarettes, you should be 18, because if you're going to buy a pack of cigarettes, vaping's a lot healthier than smoking cigarettes."
Still, Hall said it wouldn't keep him away from the Fog Foundry Vapor Lounge, "Not at all. I always come here."
Chase Cobbold, who just turned 19, agrees vaping is a problem among minors.
"It happens all the time," Cobbold said. "I know a lot of middle schoolers who have that stuff."
However, when asked about Myers and Cuzzort's decision to raise the age, Cobbold wasn't sure the age restriction would do the trick.
"If I'm honest, I don't think it will make much of a difference because most 18-year-olds have 19 or 20-year-old friends who can get it for them."
While he doubts the age change will hurt his business, Myers does worry that if the vaping community doesn't do more to stop underage vaping, it could face stricter regulations, such as raising the minimum age to 21.
"I'm not saying if they're 18, they can't vape," Myers said. "I'm just saying they can't purchase that product from my store."