SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Summit County has joined a growing list of locales that have raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to 21.
On Monday, Summit County Council voted to raise the age restriction from 18 to 21 to purchase cigarettes, tobacco products and e-cigarettes. The measure also banned the sale of “tobacco product paraphernalia” to individuals under 21.
Sixteen million Americans are living with smoking-related diseases and tobacco use is considered to be one of Summit County’s “greatest health challenges,” according to Summit County Council documents.
Raising the age from 18 to 21 could result in fewer premature deaths, pre-term births and low birth weights. Council documents also say that individuals who have never used tobacco products by the time they are 21 years old are “unlikely” to ever start smoking.
Similar measures have been passed across areas in Ohio such as Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, according to Tobacco21.org. There are more than 450 cities across 26 states that have passed legislation raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products.
Just last month, Lakewood City Council voted to raise the age to buy tobacco products within the city to 21.
More info about the Tobacco21 movement can be found here.
