An amendment that bans the sale of nicotine products to minors was unanimously approved by the Dane County Board of Supervisors last Thursday, according to County Board Chair John Hendrick.
The county board added the amendment to the county’s current decree that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors. In addition to tobacco products, nicotine apparatuses, such as electronic cigarettes, will not be sold to anyone younger than 18 years of age.
Hendrick said the county’s health department was “very concerned” about nicotine use among teenagers.
“We already do compliance checks that businesses aren’t selling tobacco products to them,” Hendrick said. “Until now, that would not be the case for nicotine products like e-cigarettes.”
According to a Dane County press release, electronic-cigarette manufacturers produce candy-flavored “e-cigs” targeting a young market that would be drawn to the sweet flavors. The e-cigs are also unregulated, which means manufacturers have no limit on the amount of nicotine that goes into the cigarettes.
The amendment will be enforced by the health department's compliance checks. Any retailers found selling tobacco or nicotine products to minors are subject to fines up to $500. Fines up to $25 may also be enforced on minors found with tobacco or nicotine products.
Hendrick said the county board does not expect to hear any protests from retailers or manufacturers.
“I think it would be embarrassing for anyone to say that they should be sold to children,” Hendrick said.
