Council Consideration Request to create a vape-free buffer zone

Published on September 11, 2024

District 9 Councilmember files Council Consideration Request to create a vape-free buffer zone around schools

SAN ANTONIO (September 11, 2024) – District 9 Councilmember John Courage submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to establish a 1,000-foot buffer zone around schools, daycares, and institutions of higher education that prohibits the retail establishment of primarily tobacco, e-cigarettes/vapes, hookah, and headshops.

A study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlights a correlation between the presence of vape shops near schools and the initiation and sustained use of tobacco products among adolescents. 

The proposed zoning ordinance aims to regulate the location of vape shops, particularly related to public and private schools. By creating buffer zones around educational institutions, this CCR seeks to reduce the accessibility and visibility of vaping products to minors, thereby curbing the ongoing epidemic and promoting a healthier future for all residents.

Councilmembers Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (District 2), Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia (District 4), Teri Castillo (District 5), and Marina Alderete Gavito (District 7) signed on to this CCR.