Monday, June 6, 2016

Plan to Raise Maplewood's Tobacco Purchasing Age to 21 Could be Approved on Wednesday


Maplewood, New Jersey: If you are under the age of 21, you may soon not be able to purchase cigarettes in one Essex County township.

Maplewood is moving forward with plans to raise the age where customers can purchase tobacco products from the New Jersey state minimum at 19 to 21. The Township Committee will vote on Ordinance 2814-16 during their meeting on Wednesday, June 8th, according to the meeting agenda. The ordinance would prohibit the sale of any products that deliver nicotine to anyone under 21 in the township.

"It is critical that comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies of all tobacco products be implemented", the ordinance states.

A sign advising customers of the ordinance would be required at check-out counters of businesses selling tobacco. Maplewood's health officer and Maplewood Police Department officers would have enforcement authority.

Those who sell tobacco to an underage person could be fined $250 for the first offense, and the Board of Health could revoke their retail food establishment license for up to three days.

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