Cleveland City Council Votes To Raise Minimum Age To Buy Tobacco Products To 21

The Cleveland City Council passed legislation on Monday to raise the minimum age for those who can buy tobacco, smoking products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 in an effort to prevent early addiction among teenagers and adolescents.

Under the legislation, a first offense would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor for the vendor, punishable by 30 days in jail or a $250 fine. Offenses after that would be second-degree misdemeanors, punishable by 90 days in jail.

Cleveland.com reported that the City Council passed an amendment to the legislation clarifying that penalties applied only to vendors after concerns arose that law enforcement could cite cigarette use as probable cause for targeting and stopping young African-Americans. The measure still needs to be signed by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson (D).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3,800 people under 18 try smoking for the first time each day. The peak ages for trying smoking appear to be between 11 and 13, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. A report published earlier this year by the Institute of Medicine found that raising the minimum age for tobacco products would "delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults."

Over 100 localities, including New York City, have raised the minimum age required to buy tobacco products to 21.

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