Council raises tobacco purchasing age to 21

Wickliffe is joining several other Ohio communities in the Tobacco 21 movement that raises the sales age of tobacco from 18 to 21.

Despite mixed opinions from residents and city officials, Council passed an ordinance amending chapter 537- Offenses Against Persons of the Codified Ordinance to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 in the city, at the most recent council meeting.

There were four council members in favor of the ordinance and three opposed.

Councilman Thomas Bogo, who is a proponent of Tobacco 21, said he has personally witnessed the deadly effects of tobacco and wants to do something about it.

Mayor John Barbish is also in favor of Tobacco 21.

“I feel there will be a larger positive economic impact in the future from having a reduction in heart disease, respiratory disease and other tobacco-related issues, than there would be a negative economic impact in the short term from a loss of tobacco sales in those ages 18, 19 and 20,” he said.

Residents argued that 18-year-olds are adults and can join the Army and vote, therefore should be able to make their own decisions.

Councilman Joseph Sakacs, who voted “no” on this legislation, said he recently got the opportunity to speak to five 18-year-olds who were buying tobacco products at Spinners.

“They were all buying cigars for commencement,” Sakacs said. “I said to them, ‘so if you found out that you had to be 21, would you just not smoke cigars and they said no, we would go somewhere else to buy cigars’. The last thing I want to do is have people leave the city.”

Councilwoman Maria Salotto agreed with Sakacs noting that in the U.S. it is legal for 18-year-olds to purchase and smoke cigarettes.

“This is an important revenue generator — not the cigarettes themselves, but when people go into a store to buy a pack of cigarettes, they also purchase milk, bread, drinks and snacks. If they can’t do that in Wickliffe, they’re going to drive to 91 in Willoughby or they’re going to drive to Euclid or they’re going to drive to Willowick and they’re going to buy their cigarettes and everything that goes with it.”

Salotto suggested that instead of approving the ordinance, the city should offer more opportunities to educate youth about the harmful effects of tobacco.

Lake County General Health District Health Educator Catherine BevanHewitt said there will be a minimal economic loss.

“There is a two percent loss on tobacco sales; it doesn’t impact any other part of your retail sales,” she said. “Sure we give 16-yearolds licenses and they can drive, at 18 years old, they can join the military, but let’s remember you have to be 21 to purchase a hand gun, you have to be 21 to purchase alcohol, you have to be 21 to be a full-time police officer in Wickliffe city and you have to be 21 to be a full-time fireman in Wickliffe City.”

Bevan-Hewitt emphasized that Tobacco 21 will not cost Wickliffe anything to enforce.

“Compliance checks are never done by the police department,” she said. “They are done by the sheriff’s department. When Tobacco 21 goes into effect, it will not be on the police officers, it will be on the Lake County General Health District and on the sheriff’s department. Tobacco 21 will save thousands of lives in the long run.”