Tempe City Council’s Human Services and Community Safety Committee is moving forward with a focused approach to a proposed ordinance that aims to decrease youth tobacco and e-cigarette use. The updated proposal would establish a tobacco sales license, enact fees to ensure compliance and raise the minimum age of tobacco purchase to 21 years old.

Next, the city will engage in a second public involvement process to solicit feedback about changes to the proposal. Two public meetings will be held on March 20, one virtual at noon and one in-person at 6 p.m. at the Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road. In addition, a survey at tempe.gov/forum will be open March 20 – April 3 for community members to submit feedback.

Currently, Arizona is one of 10 states that does not have a statewide tobacco licensing registry. This means that retailers who sell tobacco products can continue to sell the products even after repeated violations for selling to minors. The proposal would establish a citywide registry, which would enact fees to ensure compliance and revoke a license for repeat offenses.

If passed, Tempe would join other Arizona cities, such as Tucson and Flagstaff, which have passed retail tobacco licensing ordinances and raised the minimum age to 21 in alignment with federal legislation signed into law in 2019.

At the Jan. 27 Committee meeting, Councilmembers Doreen Garlid and Joel Navarro agreed to move this tobacco sales license-focused approach forward. Councilmembers Garlid and Navarro also reached consensus to look into aligning Tempe’s proposed fees with other cities’ fee structures, research best approaches for enforcement of the ordinance, and keep any provisions about exceptions for indigenous, religious or cultural practices.

After the public engagement process in March, the ordinance could be brought to the full Council for discussion at a future City Council meeting, potentially in April or May. Then, pending Council consensus, any new fees would be posted on the city’s website for 60 days before a vote is taken. The Council would also hold two public hearings ahead of a vote, which would take place at two separate Regular Council Meetings.

Background
Over the last year, the Human Services and Community Safety Committee has been working on an ordinance that would aim to curb youth tobacco use. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 51% of Arizona high school students have tried electronic vaping products. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning that e-cigarette use has become an epidemic among youth.

Last summer and fall, the Committee engaged in a public feedback process for a proposed ordinance that, in addition to the items above, would restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes. The current tobacco seller license approach could be the first step in a more comprehensive ordinance that would include product restrictions.

“We’ve heard from school boards, parents and health advocates saying that something needs to be done about vaping and tobacco use by our kids,” said Councilmember Doreen Garlid. “As Councilmembers, it’s our responsibility to look out for the health and safety of our youth. We will continue to work to make sure that these dangerous and addictive products stay out of the hands of kids and teens.”

“In Tempe, we aren’t afraid to stand up and do what’s right for our kids,” said Councilmember Joel Navarro. “I’m excited that we’re going to be getting some input and continuing the conversation with this revised approach. We want to work with the business community while also putting forth measures that are going to protect youth from the extremely harmful effects of these products.”

Learn more at tempe.gov/vaping.