A Tempe City Council committee has decided to update a proposal to decrease youth tobacco and e-cigarette use by establishing a tobacco sales license, enacting fees to ensure compliance and raising to 21 the minimum age to buy tobacco.

Councilmembers Doreen Garlid and Joel Navarro agreed at the Jan. 27 meeting of the Human Services and Community Safety Committee to move a “tobacco sales license-focused approach forward,” a city release stated.

They also decided 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,” according to the release.

Two public meetings will take place on Monday, 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 the community to register opinions.
 
Arizona is one of 10 states that does not have a statewide tobacco licensing registry, meaning retailers who sell tobacco products can continue to sell the products even after repeated violations for selling to minors, according to the city.

The Tempe 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.
  
After public participation in March, the ordinance could be brought to the full council for discussion, potentially in April or May.

Then, according to the city, 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 would have two public hearings ahead of a vote, which would take place at two separate council meetings.

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 Tempe committee had been working with members of the community on a proposed ordinance that, in addition to the items agreed to last week, would restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes.

While the flavored-tobacco elements are not included in the proposed ordinance, “the current tobacco seller license approach could be the first step in a more comprehensive ordinance that would include product restrictions,” the city release stated.
 
“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,” Garlid said.

“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.”
 
Navarro added: “In Tempe, we aren’t afraid to stand up and do what’s right for our kids. 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.