This Bergen County Town Could Raise Tobacco-Buying Age To 21

Another Bergen County town could soon put tobacco on the same level as alcohol in terms of how old you need to be to purchase it.

The Hillsdale Borough Council has introduced an ordinance that would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, to 21, The Record reported.

The change came out of discussions officials have had since July, when the council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance, the report said.

Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store, and Automotive Association, said that raising the tobacco-buying age ”will do absolutely nothing to stop 19- and 20-year-olds from smoking. They will simply purchase their tobacco products in another town,” said in the report.

The ordinance will be up for adoption at the council’s next meeting, Nov. 10.