The Pekin City Council couldn’t reach a majority on a proposal to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21-years-old, deadlocking at 3-3 with one member absent.
On Monday night, the council took up the matter as part of its new business agenda, but could not reach a majority decision as to how to proceed. The increase would have also applied to electronic cigarettes and other tobacco alternative products, and would have increased the minimum age for legal possession of tobacco and tobacco alternatives 21-years-old as well.
While the council couldn’t reach a decision, the minimum age to purchase tobacco could still go up, as the Illinois Legislature is slated to once again consider a bill to raise the age to 21 statewide. A similar bill was approved last year, only to be vetoed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner and unable to be overridden by the House of Representatives.
Pekin is located just south of Peoria and approximately 170 miles southwest of Chicago. It is home to approximately 33,000 residents.