Chicago Squashes Plan to Up Smoking Age to 21

The City Council’s Finance Committee opposed the mayor’s proposal because of concerns about small retailers and increased black market cigarette sales.

February 10, 2016

CHICAGO – The Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee blocked Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposal to raise the city’s tobacco buying age to 21 and increase taxes on tobacco products, WMAQ-TV reports. Committee members expressed concerns that the plan would fan sales of loose cigarettes on the black market as well as shutter small retailers, especially those with locations close to the city’s borders.

Tobacco sales are “a critical profit center for convenience stores and gas stations,” pointed out Illinois Retail Merchant Association spokeswoman Tanya Triche. But the mayor indicated he’s not ready to concede. “Mayor Emanuel has stood up to the tobacco industry countless times throughout his career to reduce youth smoking, and he's not about to back down now,” said City Hall Spokesman Adam Collins.

The plan would have increased the city’s legal smoking age to 21, outlawed cigarette coupons or discounts and taxed other tobacco products to the tune of $6 million. Emanuel wanted the new tax revenue for an orientation program for high school freshmen.

Currently, the city has the highest cigarette tax in the United States at $7.17 per pack. Raising the tobacco-buying age has attracted attention at the local, state and federal level. Already, Hawaii, Cleveland, Evanston, Illinois, and 80 cities in Massachusetts require customers to be at least 21 to purchase tobacco products.

Look out for the March issue of NACS Magazine for a feature story on tobacco age restrictions.

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