At its meeting on Thursday, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance that will raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old, effective immediately according to the version presented to the commission.
Additionally, stores will be prohibited from offering any tobacco products via a self-service display unless access to the entire premises is restricted to persons who are at least 21-years-old. Violators of the new law will be subject to a written warning for a first offense, followed by a $500 fine for a second offense and $1,000 fine for each subsequent offense.
Fort Lauderdale joins Alachua County as being the only municipalities in the state to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old.
Fort Lauderdale is home to just over 182,000 residents and is located approximately 30 miles north of Miami.