official rules

Check out the official rules for the 2025 Escape the Vape Video Challenge- make sure to read the full list!

New this year

All videos go through a qualifying process. We make sure that the Escape the Vape rules are followed before your video moves on to the judging process. Keep an eye on your email after you submit your video. We will be reaching out to students with the reason why their video does not qualify and giving them a chance to fix those errors and resubmit. The sooner you submit your video, the longer you will have to make any edits needed.

ENTRY RULES

  • High school division: You must be a Minnesota student in grades 9–12.

  • Middle school division: You must be a Minnesota student in grades 6–8.

  • Home-schooled Minnesota students of the ages corresponding to the above grade levels are eligible to participate.

video making rules

  • Videos should not be more than 30 seconds long. There is a 2 second grace period. Any video that is longer than 32 seconds will be automatically disqualified. 

  • Videos must include at least one vaping fact about the dangers of vaping and one call to action. Vaping facts must be from the vaping facts page.

  • Videos must be created by the entrant students, not their parents or other adults. Students may create their video as part of a class or youth program, but video entries must be the student’s original work. Up to four students may be part of a group video submission. 

VIDEOS MUST NOT:

  • Contain material which is (or promotes activities which are) sexually explicit, obscene, pornographic, violent, self-mutilating (e.g., relating to murder, the sales of weapons, cruelty, abuse, etc.), discriminatory (based on race, sex, religion, natural origin, physical disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or age), illegal, offensive, threatening, profane, or harassing.

  • Include mention or performance of any copyrighted media production, including but not limited to music, films, books, television programming, etc., or identifying descriptions of any media property.

  • Contain material that violates or infringes on another person’s rights, including but not limited to material that violates privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement. Without limiting the foregoing, video submissions must not include third party trademarks, logos, insignia, location signage, photographs, artwork, or sculptures.

  • Show or use vaping devices, accessories, or products, or any commercial tobacco products. Videos that contain an actual device, or simulate vaping with an actual device may be disqualified, as will videos that depict smoking, chewing, or otherwise using commercial tobacco. 

  • Depictions of activities that simulate vaping but are obviously not using actual devices will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

  • Contain language or images of the human body that would be inappropriate for a general audience, including small children. 

Be smart! Safety should be the highest priority.

Do not put yourself or anyone else at risk of harm while making your video. Escape the Vape reserves the right to disqualify any video at its sole discretion.

Videos must only use music that is originally written, performed and produced by you, the entrant, or music that is royalty-free and in the public domain. Use our Escape the vape Music List.

If a student submits a video with music they have originally written and produced , the student provides Escape the Vape with a royalty-free, worldwide license to any music or other intellectual property (or “IP”) that is part of their submission. 

Here’s all that information simplified. For the kids in the back!

YOUR VIDEO CAN NOT INCLUDE:

  • Copyrighted music, movies, books, etc.

  • Logos, brands or store signs

  • Yourself or anyone else using or displaying a vaping device

  • Inappropriate, disrespectful, dangerous, or illegal content

YOUR VIDEO MUST:

  • Be less than 30 seconds long 

  • Include one fact about the dangers of vaping (see vaping facts) 

  • Include one call to action 

  • Be original, created solely by the student or student group, with no parent or teacher help 

Make sure you can Check all of the boxes on the Checklist prior to submission

Don’t want to create your own music?

Our Escape the Vape music list provides royalty-free music for you to use. This music is available for us to publicize and broadcast on a license-free, no compensation basis. 

VIDEO SUBMISSION RULES

  • Only one team member will complete the Video Submission Form. Every section must be completed. VIDEOS SUBMITTED WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION WILL NOT BE JUDGED.

  • Videos must be uploaded to the Video Submission Form in an MP4 format. (must not exceed 100mb).

  • Video submissions must have a unique title. Do not call your video “Escape the Vape Challenge.”

  • You may only submit one video entry - as an individual or as part of one group submission.

ENTRANT SUBMISSION RULES

REMEMBER: ONLY ONE TEAM MEMBER SUBMITS YOUR VIDEO.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE ONE WHO SUBMITTED THE VIDEO) MUST COMPLETE THE CONTEST PERMISSION FORM.

Eligible entrants must submit their entry in accordance with these official rules. No other method of submission will be accepted.

You can find the video submission form here.

additional information

  • Video entries may be submitted in languages other than English. For non-English videos, an English translation should be included in the Video Submission Form.

  • Once submitted, you will receive confirmation that we received your submission. 

  • If we can’t open your MP4 video submission, we will let you know by email and give you the opportunity to resubmit the video. This type of technical issue will not disqualify your entry. 

  • If you have any trouble uploading your entry before the January 31st, 2025 midnight deadline, email mnescapethevape@gmail.com. 

  • The Escape the Vape Video Challenge and the Minnesota Department of Health, including its agents and contractors, are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete entries. Escape the Vape reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules without notice. Decisions of Escape the Vape are final. 

  • Please refer to the Escape the Vape Checklist prior to submission to make sure you can answer yes to all of the questions.

“FALSE FACTS”

Does vaping cause cancer? The short answer is that it’s too soon to tell. Much more research is needed to fully understand the link between e-cigarette use, often called vaping, and cancer. Regardless, vaping is not safe for youth as e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Because the brain is still developing until about age 25, youth and young adult exposure to nicotine can lead to addiction and disrupt attention and learning. Evidence also suggests that, compared to youth who have never used them, youth who have tried e-cigarettes are much more likely to start smoking cigarettes in the future. These are the reasons for the Escape the Vape Video Challenge and the importance for youth to teach each other about the dangers and misconceptions of vaping. It’s also important that video submissions are factual and accurate. Videos will be disqualified if they contain any untrue statements, “false facts,” or facts that cannot be verified. Below are some examples of “false facts”:

False facts or misconceptions:

  • “Vaping causes cancer”

  • “Vaping helps people quit smoking”

  • “It’s just harmless water vapor”

  • “Vapes contain all-natural ingredients”

  • “Tobacco companies would never target their products toward kids”

For actual facts that can be used in your video, please refer to the vaping fact sheet.