Naperville Residents Must Now Be 21 to Buy Tobacco

NAPERVILLE, IL — Sorry, smokers age 18 to 20, you are no longer allowed to buy cigarettes. At least not in Naperville.

The Naperville City Council approved in a 6-3 vote at its Monday meeting to raise the purchasing age from 18 to 21, according to the Chicago Tribune. However, the purchasing age increase for alternative tobacco products, like those used for hookahs and vaping, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Councilman John Krummen voted for the ordinance, but said he didn’t think it would have any “practical effect,” as underage smokers can go to another city to purchase tobacco products.

Voting against the ordinance were Councilmen Kevin Coyne, Kevin Gallaher and Paul Hinterlong.

"Is it naive for us to think we are making a dent in the people under the age of 21 who are smoking," Coyne said in the article.

The ordinance will go into effect Jan. 1.

photo via Shutterstock