Cloquet, Carlton County consider raising tobacco age to 21

The Cloquet City Council heard a presentation on a proposed ordinance on tobacco sales from the Carlton County Public Health and Human Services Department at its Oct. 15 work session. “Tobacco 21” is an initiative backed by the health department to reduce tobacco use — including smokeless options such as vaping — by restricting sales of the products to those under 21 years old.

“So far, 36 cities statewide, and eight counties, have passed ‘Tobacco 21’ ordinances in Minnesota,” said Alli Mueller, who made the presentation with Meghann Levitt, both public health educators in charge of the local initiative. “A statewide law passed the House last legislative session, but didn’t get through the Senate,” Mueller said, indicating that some state legislators prefer to see such tobacco restrictions regulated on local levels first, before being applied statewide. “The feedback we’ve seen is that the law has a better chance of passing statewide if a local approach to raising the age from 18 to 21 is successful,” Mueller told the Council.

Levitt said that the Carlton County Board of Commissioners seems eager to pass the ordinance county-wide, but some details need to be worked out.

“We know that tobacco is an addiction. If we suddenly stop allowing sales to addicts under 21, the health department better have some cessation programs available to them. It’s irresponsible to take away their addiction fix without getting them help at the same time,” Levitt said.

Levitt said that the proposed ordinance restricts sales to those under 21, but it doesn’t make possession a crime. “The ordinance is designed to reduce the use of sales to those under 21; not punish those who have cigarettes or Juul in their possession. We’ve found that prohibiting sales is much more effective at reducing tobacco use among teens,” she said.

Levitt pointed out data that she said supports the ordinance.

“The surveys show that 60 percent of teenaged tobacco users say they get their supplies from their friends who are over 18. Eighty percent of tobacco addicts started using tobacco when they were teenagers. People are less likely to get addicted if they don’t start using tobacco as teens. This ordinance addresses that issue.”

Mueller told the council that other details in the proposed ordinance include flavor restrictions. “Mint or menthol flavors dull the harshness of tobacco, and candy-flavors are designed to appeal to the young. That needs to be addressed,” she said. “The proposed ordinance would keep new tobacco sales from being located within 1,000 feet of a youth-oriented location such as a park or school, although that restriction only applies to new licenses.”

The proposal also restricts the age of the clerks who are selling tobacco. “The person actually selling the products must be 21; we’ve found that it reduces the peer pressure and awkwardness of teens working at gas stations, for example, being forced to decline sales to their friends,” Levitt said.

The council took no action and may consider “Tobacco 21” at a future meeting.