News and Events

City of Vero Beach Raises the Age for Tobacco, Vaping Products to 21
August 18, 2020

The City Council of Vero Beach approved a city-wide ordinance on August 18, 2020, prohibiting the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone younger than 21 years old within the City of Vero Beach.

The ordinance amends Chapter 73 on Tobacco Products, expanding the definition of tobacco products to include any product derived from tobacco or nicotine, including electronic cigarettes. The ordinance encourages all retailers where tobacco products can be purchased to display signage of the age requirement. In addition, the ordinance reaffirmed the Clean Indoor Air Act and encouraged businesses to install signs prohibiting the use of tobacco products indoors.

The changes to the previous tobacco ordinance reflect an effort to address the ongoing youth vaping crisis. According to the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, one in four high school students and one in ten middle schools have reported current use of an e-cigarette device (1). Electronic cigarette devices typically contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. These products became popular among youth due to their availability and flavors.  The long-term effects of e-cigarettes remain unknown; however, nicotine use in adolescence is not safe (2).

The efforts of the City Council reflect the City’s interest in reducing the availability of these products to youth and promote health and safety among residents. The City Council approved the ordinance by a 5-0 vote.

“The efforts of the City Council to adopt an ordinance strengthening the requirement for the sale of tobacco is a tremendous step in ensuring youth do not have access to these products,” said Savoie, facilitator of the Tobacco Free Partnership. “The Tobacco Free Partnership commends the City for addressing such an important issue and hopes that it will serve as a model for other municipalities.”

The local Tobacco Free Partnership is continuing to address the youth vaping crisis and the importance of the retail point of sale. For more information on the local Tobacco Free Partnership, please email Kyleigh Savoie at ksavoie@quitdoc.com.

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References:

  1. Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, 2019.
  2. US Department of Health and Human Services. E-cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon Genera. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2016. Accessed August 21, 2020