If you’re 18 years old next year, you won’t be old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes in Aspen.
In fact, anyone under the age of 21 in the posh Pitkin County resort town won’t be able to purchase any tobacco products — including e-cigarettes — starting Jan. 1, 2018.
That’s after the Aspen City Council on Monday passed an ordinance raising the minimum age of those who can purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 as part of efforts to curb tobacco addiction among young adults.
“Aspen is such a health-conscious town and our residents and guests enjoy life here for the clean air and exercise opportunities,” Aspen Mayor Steven Skadron said in a written statement. “Our leadership is essential in creating a city known for its healthy lifestyle and ethic. This law will positively contribute toward the goal of lowering smoking rates in young adults,”
Officials say the city council worked on the ordinance with Pitkin County Medical Officer Dr. Kimberly Levin.
Levin, in turn, worked with the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation for over a year with the goal of having Aspen join 225 other municipalities and the states of California and Hawaii in raising the age to 21.
“Along with educational efforts, increasing the age from 18 to 21 will make the single largest impact protecting our youth from a lifetime addiction to nicotine thereby preventing serious medical issues associated with cigarette smoking,” Levin said in a written statement.
Aspen plans to create a local tobacco sales license to ensure sellers adhere to the new ordinance. The city estimates it will forgo sales taxes of roughly $75,000 per year because of the age change.
