Mounds View, Minn. Increases Minimum Tobacco Purchasing Age to 21

Mounds View has become the latest in the Twins Cities to increases its minimum tobacco purchasing age to 21.

The Mounds View City Council has approved Ordinance No. 961, which changes the cities code to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. It also expands the definition of “electronic delivery device,” i.e. cigarette, to include both natural and synthetic nicotine products.

In a somewhat confusing manner, it has also added the following language, “Smoking also includes carrying or using an activated electronic delivery device.” Given that “smoking” any licensed products is illegal within tobacco stores in Mounds View—except cigars in certain instances—it seems plausible that the language now makes it illegal to carry an “activated” e-cigarette in a tobacco store.

Mounds View has a population around 12,000. It is located 10 miles north of Minneapolis.