ATTN SAN ANTONIO MEMBERS: RETAILERS RALLY AGAINST TOBACCO 21 INITIATIVE
By
Texas Food and Fuel Association
12/4/2017
SPEAK UP! Stop Tobacco Regulations that Could Harm Retailers. San Antonio City Council wants to restrict the sale of tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, hookahs, and chewing tobacco.
Wed. Dec. 6 - 1:00 p.m. City Hall Complex 105 Main Plaza San Antonio, Texas 78205
Stand in Solidarity Against Criminalizing the Sale of Tobacco Products to Customers Aged 18-21
The San Antonio City Council will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Wed. Dec. 6.
The first item on their agenda is a proposal from the Metropolitan Health District to raise the legal age for sale/use/possession of tobacco to 21.
We will gather on the Plaza before the meeting to voice opposition to this proposal.
This is our chance to be heard. They will vote on Dec. 14. It’s now or never!
*It is TFFA's understanding that right now there are four "NO" votes against the proposed ordinance to raise the legal tobacco age to 21. Two more "NO" votes are needed to block the passage.
If San Antonio were to increase the legal minimum sale age to 21 years of age, it would be the first city in Texas to do so.
TFFA stands with retailers in protecting their businesses — here is what TFFA is saying about the proposed efforts to raise the legal age of purchasing tobacco products:
Raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products would be inconsistent with the way the state and federal government define adulthood for other purposes, including voting, serving in the armed forces and paying taxes
Increasing the legal age of purchase on tobacco products will drive current, adult customers to other localities or states to acquire tobacco products. And while there, they will buy gas, food and many of the other items on which your store depends.
Increasing the City’s legal age of purchase is unnecessary and is not the best approach to reducing underage use of tobacco products.
For more information contact Matt Burgin, Director of Government Relations at 512.617.4305 or mburgin@tffa.com.
