On Monday, the Minneapolis City Council’s Committee of Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement approved an ordinance seeking to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old, which will send it to the full council for consideration as early as next Thursday.
As currently written, the ordinance seeks to raise the age on Oct. 1, 2018.
A number of cities in the surrounding area have recently passed similar increases, including Shoreview and Falcon Heights, both of which passed increases in the prior week. Edina, North Mankato, Bloomington, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park have also raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21. A bill seeking a statewide increase has been introduced into the legislature, though appears unlikely to advance this session.
The Minneapolis City Council will next meet on Thursday, May 24.
Minneapolis is the most populated city in Minnesota, with a population of just over 413,000 residents, while its total metropolitan area is the 16th largest in the country, with approximately 3.55 million people.