City Of Tucson Raises Tobacco-Buying Age To 21, Including E-Cigs

TUCSON, AZ – Tuesday evening the Tucson City Council approved a measure raising the legal age for purchasing e-cigarettes and other tobacco products to 21. Tucson is now the state’s fifth city to pass a similar ordinance, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

The ordinance starts Jan. 1, 2020 and only affects retailers doing business in the city of Tucson itself. The ordinance gives a 90-day “educational period” prior to strict enforcement starting. The City of Tucson code enforcement and business services departments will oversee compliance.

It will cost a retailer $500 the first time the ordinance is violated. By the time a retailer violates the ordinance a fourth time, their permit will be revoked and they will have to pay a $1,000 fine. And the retailer faces a yearlong suspension before they can reapply for a permit.

The ordinance passed by a vote of 6-1, with Councilman Richard Fimbres casting the dissenting vote because he said the measure would pose a threat to smaller retail companies.

A similar measure was voted down by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in September.

Read the full story at the Arizona Daily Star.