Columbia raises age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21

A person must now be 21 years old to buy tobacco in Columbia.

The Columbia city council voted to increase the legal age Monday night after more than an hour of public comment.

Council members spoke about the overall public health benefit they think this will cause. Two council members even talked about their days of smoking.

Fourth Ward councilman Ian Thomas said he wished London had an age restriction like 21 years old to potentially stop him from smoking in his younger years.

Supporters said raising the age would reduce the number of teens smoking.

One other point was personal liberty, a point both sides tried to argue for.

The council approved this first ordinance 6-1. Fifth Ward councilwoman Laura Nauser was the only dissenting vote based on her libertarian voting streak.

The council also approved the second ordinance 6-1 to raise the legal age to buy vapor products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21.

And the council also approved the third ordinance 6-1, which bans using vapor products and e-cigarettes indoors.