Ann Arbor, Schenectady County Up Minimum Tobacco Buying Age to 21

The new Michigan ordinance will commence January 1, while the New York law takes effect September 1.

August 12, 2016

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Ann Arbor, Mich., has joined more than 100 other cities and two states in raising the minimum tobacco buying age to 21, the Monroe News reports. The City Council gave its final okay on the ordinance, which will take effect Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, across the country in New York, Schenectady County has become the fifth locality in the Empire State to raise the legal tobacco buying age from 18 to 21, the Times-Union reports. This week, the county legislature approved the ban, which will go into effect Sept. 1.

Majority Leader Gary Hughes said he wanted New York to raise the state tobacco buying age to 21. Hughes also dismissed concerns from local businesses about the impact of lost revenue, adding that he thought those retailers would be able to compensate with sales from other categories. He pointed out that local law enforcement would work with retailers. “There will be a period of time when the enforcement will be advisory and not punitive,” Hughes said.

The two dissenting votes came from Cathy Gatta and Holly Vellano. Gatta didn’t vote for the ban because she wanted the focus to be on targeting young teens with antismoking information. Vellano voted no because, “for me, it’s a freedom of choice issue.”

Read more about increased age limits for tobacco purchases in “Must be 21 to Buy” in NACS Magazine.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement