GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Thursday signed into law House Bill 21-92, which raises the minimum age to buy tobacco to 21 from 18, and imposes increased penalties on businesses that will sell tobacco to an individual under 21 years old.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signs Public Law 21-41 as its author, Rep. Joel Camacho, looks on.
Contributed photo
Authored by Rep. Joel Camacho, the bill is now Public Law 21-41.
For the first offense, P.L. 21-41 increases the penalty for selling tobacco to minors to a $500 fine from a warning letter.
The penalty for the second offense, which used to be a $500 fine, is now a $1,000 fine and a seven-day suspension of license in addition to recertification training.
For third offense, the penalty, which used to be revocation, is now a six-month suspension of license in addition to recertification training.
In an interview, Camacho said he is grateful to all the stakeholders and the Department of Commerce-Alcoholic Beverage & Tobacco Control headed by Director David Maratita for their assistance in drafting the measure.
“I would most especially like to thank the governor for signing the bill, which is the first to be enacted into law in 2021,” Camacho said.
“Public Law 21-41 is significant because it conforms with U.S. Public Law 116-94, which raised the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco to the age of 21. Most importantly, based on the guidance of ABTC, we learned that the original penalties did not provide the necessary deterrent effect to stores that sold tobacco to minors. So ultimately, Public Law 21-41 also strengthens the penalties associated with the sale of tobacco products to minors,” Camacho said.
