LEHI (ABC4 News) – Lehi City is voting Tuesday night to postpone their decision to raise the legal tobacco purchasing age to 21 until the Utah Legislature has made a decision about doing the same statewide.
As House Bill 324 stands, it would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 but prevent local city councils from further raising the age limit in the future.
A major motivation for the age change for both municipalities and the state is teen vaping. From 2017-2018 there was a 78 percent increase of teen vaping here in Utah.
The Department of Health says increasing the age will decrease teenagers access because it’s simply much less common for high schoolers to have a 21-year-old within their friend circle.
Lehi City says their rule will go into effect but are prepared to adjust their rule depending on the decision of the legislature.
To weigh in on the vote, reach out to your senator here.
