Minneapolis Raises Age to 21 to Buy Tobacco

According to WDIO, the MInneapolis City Council voted unanimously on Friday May 25 to raise the age to legally purchase tobacco from 18-21. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed the ordinance which will go into effect on October 1.

Supporters of the new law say many adult smokers admitted that they started smoking before they were 21. They are hoping that this ordinance will stop young people from starting to smoke in the first place.

I truly don't believe that the same volume of people smoke like they have in the past because of the huge jump in price for cigarettes, restaurants and bars not allowing smoking  and more resources available to help people quit  I do think that vaping and those type of products are big  for younger people, but where there is a will there is a way to get what they are looking for.

Not surprisingly the Minnesota Retailers Association opposes the ordinance. The group argues that state lawmakers should make these decisions not local governments. I wonder how long it will be before Duluth imposes this same ordinance?