Otter Tail County Becomes First MN County to Pass T-21
In a unanimous 4-0 vote, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recently passed an ordinance to raise the legal purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. Otter Tail County now becomes the first county in Minnesota to pass the Tobacco 21 (T-21) ordinance, which will start to be phased in beginning January 1, 2019.
“This is an encouraging move by leaders in Otter Tail County and we hope other cities and counties will follow their lead,” said Kasey Cable, Tobacco Prevention Program Manager with Feeling Good MN. “T-21 can help reduce smoking, vaping and other tobacco use among young people, which we know will help prevent health issues attributed to tobacco use, such as cancer and heart disease.”
There are 17 local governments in Minnesota and scores of cities, counties and states nationwide that have adopted this type of T-21 ordinance. Feeling Good MN continues to work with local and state partners on the T-21 effort to educate communities and engage lawmakers about ways to protect youth from the harms of tobacco.
