The Indian River County Commission Tuesday directed its attorney Dylan Reingold to draw up an ordinance prohibiting sales of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to people under 21.
Currently customers 18 and older may legally purchase cigarettes, cigars and e-cigs.
Commissioner Peter O’Bryan proposed the measure be modeled on the city of Vero Beach’s ordinance, which sets the minimum age at 21 and prohibits tobacco products to be displayed or sold by self-service. But O’Bryan said customers producing active-duty military IDs should be exempt.
Health experts say tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of premature death in America, responsible for more than $300 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity each year.
