Rhode Island

Flavor ban, menthol allowed

Snapshot for general information only — not legal advice. Statewide regulatory detail below is drawn primarily from the Public Health Law Center 50-state review (as of June 15, 2024). Flavor categories and local highlights also use Truth Initiative (Q1 2026), CTFK (May 2026), Tax Foundation (2026), and the PHLC flavored-tobacco chart (June 2026). Always check current statutes.

Flavor / sales restrictions (statewide)

Statewide ban on flavored e-cigarettes since January 2025. Sources don't mark menthol as prohibited.

Local city / county rules

Statewide flavored e-cigarette ban (menthol treatment differs by source—see statewide notes). Several cities have local rules.

Providence: local flavored tobacco product restrictions with smoking-bar exception; menthol/mint/wintergreen carved out of local 'characterizing flavor' definition (Providence Code §§ 14-308–14-309; PHLC June 2026).
Central Falls, Johnston, Barrington, Middletown, Woonsocket listed by CTFK/Truth Initiative (CTFK May 2026; Truth Initiative Q1 2026).

Truth Initiative (Q1 2026): 4 Rhode Island jurisdictions including statewide. CTFK lists 6 localities.

Tax

Map summary: Open systems 10% of wholesale; closed systems $0.50/mL

N/A

Youth access / retail restrictions

Sale/distribution of electronic nicotine delivery system to persons under age 21 prohibited.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-9-13, 11-9-13.10, 11-9-13.8(1), 11-9-13.11(a) (2024)

Vending machine sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems restricted to locked machines in locations continually supervised and in direct line of sight of authorized person on a business premises or in locations inaccessible to persons under age 21.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.1(a) (2024)

Distribution and redemption of free electronic nicotine-delivery system products or coupons for free or discounted products to any individual under age 21 or to individuals of any age within 500 feet of any school prohibited.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.10 (2024)

Sale of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems prohibited.
216-50 R.I. Code R. § 15-6.10(A) (2024)

Delivery sales of electronic nicotine delivery system products require (1) valid form of government identification and an attestation from purchaser certifying information on government identification is correct and (2) product to be delivered to address of purchaser on the valid form of government identification and the signature of the purchaser or other person over age 21 at said address.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.11(b) (2024)

Retail license

Yes (retailers, distributors and manufacturers).
23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-56(a) (2024)

Packaging

Electronic nicotine delivery system must be sold in “original, factory-wrapped package as sealed and certified by the manufacturer.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.8(2) (2024)

Electronic nicotine delivery system liquids must be sold in child-resistant packaging.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws. § 11-9-13.20(a)—(b) (2024)

Delivery / online sales

Sale/distribution of electronic nicotine delivery system to persons under age 21 prohibited.

Sale of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems prohibited.

Smoke-free / indoor use

Use of electronic nicotine delivery systems included in definition of “smoking” and prohibited in same places smoking is prohibited (23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-2(19) (2024) (definition of "smoking")), including public places, health care facilities, child and adult day care facilities, common areas of multi-unit housing (more than 4 units), public transportation, schools and indoor and outdoor sports arenas (23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-3 (2024)), workplaces (23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-4 (2024)), with some exceptions (23 R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-20.10-6, 23-20.10-6.1 (2024)).

Definition notes

Included in a “tobacco product” definition in at least one statute?

Yes.
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.4 (16) (2024)

How the jurisdiction defines e-cigarettes / related terms (excerpts):

Youth Access

Electronic nicotine-delivery system means “an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic little cigars, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah, ‘heat not burn products,’ e-liquids, e-liquid products, or any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.4(6) (2024)

Electronic nicotine-delivery system product means “any combination of electronic nicotine-delivery system and/or e-liquid and/or any derivative thereof, and/or any e-liquid container.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.4(7) (2024)

E-liquid and e-liquid products means “any liquid or substance placed in or sold for use in an electronic nicotine-delivery system that generally utilizes a heating element that aerosolizes, vaporizes, or combusts a liquid or other substance containing nicotine or nicotine derivative: (i) [w]hether the liquid or substance contains nicotine or a nicotine derivative; or (ii) [w]hether sold separately or sold in combination with a personal vaporizer, electronic nicotine-delivery system, or an electronic inhaler.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.4(8) (2024)

Liquid nicotine container means “a bottle or other container of a liquid or other substance where the liquid or substance is sold, marketed, or intended for use in a vapor product [excluding such containers that are] prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer and not intended to be opened by the consumer.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws. § 11-9-13.20(c) (2024)

Tobacco product(s) means “any product(s) containing, made of, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether inhaled, absorbed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to . . . electronic nicotine-delivery system products, or any added substance that may be aerosolized, vaporized, or otherwise delivered by such an electronic nicotine-delivery system device, whether or not that substance contains nicotine.”
11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.4 (16) (2024)

Use

Electronic nicotine-delivery system means “an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other component of that device.”
23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-2(4) (2024)

Links

Public Health Law Center — Rhode Island 50-state review PHLC flavored tobacco sales chart (June 2026) Truth Initiative Q1 2026 CTFK localities fact sheet Tax Foundation vaping taxes FDA Tobacco 21

Page generated for the US Vape Laws Map project. Regulatory text excerpts © source publishers; compiled October 2026. Not legal advice. Federal rules also apply: 21+ sales age; ID checks under 30; only FDA-authorized e-cigarettes may lawfully be sold; USPS generally will not mail vapes.