Mohave Today

Tempe City Council approved an amendment to city code that creates a tobacco sales licensing program, enacts fees to ensure compliance and raises the minimum age of purchase of tobacco products to 21.

The amended code will go into effect May 1, 2024, to allow tobacco retailers sufficient time to meet the training requirements of the license. Two public hearings were held for the proposal at the Regular Council Meetings on Oct. 12 and 26.

In order to apply for a license, retailers must show proof of completing the Arizona Retail Tobacco Training, which is currently offered by the Tobacco Enforcement Unit of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The annual license fee is $300, and fees and penalties will go toward administration of the ordinance. The Tempe Police Department will investigate any complaints, as well as conduct compliance checks alongside the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

If found selling to minors, retailers will face the following penalties:

•    First violation: $500 and the agent of the tobacco retailer must attend an Arizona retail tobacco training class

•    Second violation: $750 and the tobacco retailer is prohibited from selling tobacco products for 7 days

•    Third violation:  $1,000 and the tobacco retailer is prohibited from selling tobacco products for 30 days

•    Fourth violation: $1,000 and license revocation

Arizona is one of 10 states that does not have a statewide tobacco licensing registry. This means that tobacco retailers can continue to sell the products even if they receive repeat violations for selling to minors. The ordinance will allow the City of Tempe to enact penalties and revoke licenses of retailers with repeat violations.

 

With this passage, Tempe joins several other Arizona cities, such as Tucson and Flagstaff, that have passed retail tobacco licensing ordinances and raised the minimum age to 21 in alignment with federal legislation signed into law in 2019. 

 

The ordinance was brought forward by Tempe City Council’s Human Services and Community Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilmembers Doreen Garlid and Joel Navarro. Two rounds of public input were held over the last year to gather feedback about the policies. 

 

“Ultimately, we’re doing this to protect our youth so that we do not have another generation addicted to harmful and dangerous products,” said Councilmember Garlid. “I want to thank the Tempe City Council and all the parents and organizations who brought this issue to the forefront, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to work together to decrease tobacco use among youth.”

 

“We look forward to tracking the data that comes out of the ordinance to identify any next steps we should to take to ensure that tobacco stays out of the hands of kids and teens,” said Councilmember Navarro. “The City of Tempe has always been a leader when it comes to curbing tobacco use in our community, and I’m glad we could take this step and be a leader yet again in the Valley.”

 

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 51% of Arizona high school students have tried electronic vaping products. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning that e-cigarette use has become an epidemic among youth.

Anyone who possesses information about a licensed retailer selling to minors can submit anonymous crime tips to the Tempe Police Department through Citizen Observer, an online tip service. To report a crime, contact Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311. In case of an emergency, dial 911.

Learn more at tempe.gov/TobaccoOrdinance.

Original source can be found here.