The list of Chicago-area cities approving tobacco purchasing age increases continues to grow, as on Tuesday the suburb of Lake Zurich approved its version of the ordinance, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
As part of the increase, not only will it be illegal for someone under 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products or nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes, but it will also be illegal for those individuals to possess them. The current age for both the purchase and possession of tobacco products is 18-years-old in the village.
The increase was unanimously approved by the six members of the village’s Board of Trustees at its meeting on Dec. 3. The village joins Chicago, unincorporated Lake County, Highland Park, Deerfield and Vernon Hills, among other cities in the area who have passed similar increases, with nearly 30 doing so across Illinois. A statewide increase was approved earlier this year but vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, with the Illinois House of Representatives unable to garner enough votes to override the veto.
Lake Zurich is located 40 miles northwest of Chicago and is home to approximately 20,000 residents.