St. Louis Park Raises Legal Age To Buy Tobacco To 21

The St. Louis Park City Council has approved an ordinance raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and tobacco products in St. Louis Park from 18 to 21 years old, becoming the second Minnesota city to do so. St. Louis Park joins Edina in raising the minimum age, which voted to raise it in May.

"Smoking contributes significantly to many health issues, both for the smoker and those around them," St. Louis Park Councilmember Susan Sanger said previously. "Raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 is a very sensible and easy-to-enforce way to address this serious public health issue."

The new ordinance will go into effect Oct. 1, KARE 11 reported.

Not everyone was on board with the change. In voting against the ordinance last month, Councilmember Steve Hallfin said, “I abhor tobacco products, but this ordinance is misguided. An 18 year old is considered an adult and can be a property owner, get married and go to war – I can’t see refusing to sell tobacco to them.”

City officials supporting the ordinance said its purpose is to limit availability of tobacco products and to help reduce the number of youth who begin using tobacco.

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