Could the age to buy tobacco be raised to 21? Two Arizona cities, Cottonwood and Douglas have already adopted the ordinance to raise the minimum age and now Tucson may join them.
Tucson council members Paul Durham and Paul Cunningham agree raising the age would be a major benefit to public health in the community.
“Over 95 percent of long-term smokers start under the age of 21,” said Durham. “It's important to limit smoking among high school students in particular.”
Raising the minimum age of buying tobacco products would result in a more than 15 percent reduction in smoking for youth under the age of 21, according to an Institute of Medicine report.
"The school districts in particular like it, because they want help they need help in keeping cigarettes and tobacco products out of the high schools," Durham said.
In order to get this done, the city will have to consider factors like the financial impact. According to a memo from the city manager, in 2014, the Pima County Health Department examined the impact raising the age would have. They learned PCHD would have an estimated $250,000 to $300,000 in enforcement costs every year. That estimate doesn't include vaping and e-cigarette sales.
Every year, Tucson generates more than $40,000 in tobacco retail licenses.
Seventy-five percent of U.S. adults favor raising the minimum legal sales age for all tobacco products to 21, that’s according to Tobacco21.org.
Durham says there’s an existing tobacco license that’s required and costs $100 each year. That could easily be increased to cover the additional enforcement.
The conversation on whether to raise the age will continue tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. That’s when the city council will discuss the proposal further.
12 News sister station KVOA in Tucson contributed to this report.
