Title
Amending Chapter 409 of the Legislative Code to raise the age of persons allowed to enter liquor stores from age eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has a history of passing bold tobacco prevention policies including passing smoke-free bars and restaurants, banning candy cigarettes, setting a minimum price for cigars, placing a cap on the number of tobacco outlets, implementing a distance requirement between tobacco shops, and restricting all flavored tobacco products to adult-only tobacco shops and liquor stores; and
WHEREAS, raising the tobacco sales age to 21 in the City of Saint Paul will prevent future generations from the harms of tobacco; and
WHEREAS, youth tobacco use in Minnesota has increased for the first time in 17 years, largely due to e-cigarettes and cigars; and
WHEREAS, one in five youth currently use e-cigarettes in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, E-cigarettes used to resemble conventional cigarettes but now devices such as JUUL and Sourin resemble zip drives and are easily hidden from parents, teachers, and school administrators; and
WHEREAS, 95 percent of addicted adult smokers started before age 21, and keeping tobacco out of high schools and youth out of tobacco stores will reduce the number of youth under 18 who become addicted to tobacco; and
WHEREAS, raising the tobacco sales age to 21 will reduce teens’ ability to buy tobacco products themselves or access them through social sources; and
WHEREAS, existing penalties for purchase, use, and possession have not been proven to reduce youth tobacco use, and it diverts focus from fostering a responsible retail environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul will join thirty one local governments in Minnesota to raise the tobacco age to 21 in their communities, including: Edina, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Plymouth, North Mankato, Richfield, Roseville, Falcon Heights, Beltrami, Minnetonka, Excelsior, Lauderdale, Otter Tail County, Hermantown, Brooklyn Center, Mendota Heights, Shoreview, St. Peter, Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Duluth, Pope County, Waseca, Isanti County, Robbinsdale, North Oaks, Arden Hills, Albert Lea, Austin, Olmsted County, and states such as: California, New Jersey, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Illinois, Virginia, Delaware, Washington, and Utah; and
NOW THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN
Section 1
That Saint Paul Legislative Code section 409.08(25) is hereby amended to read as follows:
***
(25) No licensee of an exclusive liquor store which sells or displays any tobacco, tobacco-related device, electronic delivery device, or nicotine or lobelia delivery product as defined under section 324.03 may allow any person under the age of eighteen (18) twenty-one (21) years of age to enter the store unless accompanied by an adult over the age of twenty-one (21).
***
Section 2
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its passage, approval and publication.