It’s butts out for San Francisco smokers under the age of 21.
On Tuesday, San Francisco became the second largest city after New York to raise the tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21. The vote by the Board of Supervisors was unanimous, despite opponents’ arguments that cities and counties cannot supersede California law.
Aside from New York, both Hawaii and Boston have also increased the tobacco purchasing age, as has Santa Clara County. Last year, the City of Healdsburg, California suspended a similar ordinance following legal threats from the tobacco industry.
The new requirement will become effective June 1. San Francisco’s city attorney has said the ordinance is on solid legal ground.
Read more about Tuesday’s vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors here.
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