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For Immediate Release
Date: September 12, 2017
Contact: Hannah Goering
(847) 377-8099
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Lake County Increases Minimum Legal Sales Age for Tobacco Products to 21 in Unincorporated Areas
Waukegan, Ill. – On September 12, 2017, the
Lake County Board approved changes to its tobacco ordinance to increase the
minimum legal sales age (MLSA) for tobacco products to 21. Effective January 1,
2018, individuals in unincorporated Lake County must be at least 21 years of
age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
“This is a major milestone in our efforts to
prevent tobacco use among our youth,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Lake County
Health Department. “Each year, an estimated 6,300 Illinois youth start
daily smoking habits. This is detrimental to their health and well-being.”
Lake County is the first county in Illinois to raise
the MLSA to 21 in unincorporated areas. To date, five Lake County communities
including Deerfield, Highland Park, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, and Buffalo
Grove are among 11 municipalities in the state of Illinois to adopt Tobacco 21
ordinances.
“Passing Tobacco 21 today is another example of Lake
County's commitment to leading the state and nation on the critical issues
related to behavioral health," said Lake County Board Chairman Aaron
Lawlor. “Whether it’s mental health challenges, opioids, or tobacco, we have a
responsibility to deliver science-based and proven solutions that help people
stay healthy.”
Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable
cause of disease and death in the United States and is responsible for 480,000
deaths annually. Studies have identified that 95 percent of current adult tobacco
users started before the age of 21. Policies raising the MLSA of tobacco help
delay the onset of smoking by increasing the social distance between those who
can purchase tobacco and youth still attending secondary school. A 2015 report
by the Institute of Medicine identified that raising the MLSA of tobacco
products lowers the rate of youth (ages 15-17) who start smoking by 25 percent.
“We commend our County Board for taking this important
step and approving Lake County’s Tobacco 21 ordinance,” said Mark Pfister. “We
hope that this action will inspire other communities, counties, and our state
to take action to prevent youth smoking, improve health and save the lives of
our future generations.”
The Lake County Health Department’s Tobacco Free Lake
County program offers education and technical assistance to municipalities
considering Tobacco 21 policies. For more information about tobacco sales restrictions
and regulations, please contact Tobacco Free Lake County at (847) 377-8090.
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