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Will Naperville increase tobacco age to 21?

Naperville may become the fourth community in Illinois to raise the legal age to buy tobacco to 21 if officials follow the lead set by Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park.

But before the city moves to change its code, some have called for exceptions that could allow military members to buy tobacco at age 18 and allow hookah lounges to sell their product to people as young as 18.

The city's liquor and tobacco control commission is moving cautiously toward a potential recommendation that could make the purchase, possession and use of tobacco illegal for anyone younger than 21. The regulation also could be limited to apply only to the ability to buy tobacco.

Raising the legal age could stop some people from starting the habit, public health experts told liquor and tobacco commission members Thursday.

Matt Maloney, director of health policy for the Respiratory Health Association, said most teens who begin illegally smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco get the products through their friends.

"Raising the age would make it less likely that those who can purchase tobacco legally would be in teenagers' social circles," Maloney said.

Naperville parent Jason Pryz said increasing the age would help keep one common addictive drug out of high schools as the area battles a problem with heroin abuse.

"We're fighting the drug issues," Pryz said. "I believe we can take the lead by helping fight the tobacco issues as well."

But liquor and tobacco commission member Marc Blackman said positive parenting could be a better solution to teen tobacco use than changing the legal purchasing age.

"I feel like there is some personal responsibility as a parent here," said Blackman, who said his two children in their late 20s do not smoke. "You can't legislate and substitute for good parenting."

Concerns also came up about enforcement of a citywide ban on buying tobacco until age 21. If an 18- through 20-year-old buys cigarettes in neighboring Aurora or Lisle and then comes to Naperville and smokes them, police will be in an odd spot to enforce the city's new rule - especially if it's written to apply to possession and use.

"To have to put the pressure on our police to enforce something that is going to be terribly challenging unless it's a state law - I just don't know if I can support this at this time," commission member Chuck Maher said.

A proposal to raise the age to 21 statewide narrowly passed the state Senate in May, but stalled after that, said Kavita Athanikar, city prosecutor.

Still, the potential health benefits of delaying or preventing smoking win out for some on the commission, especially Dr. James Ostrenga, a physician.

"I feel that we should take some ownership in the health of our community," Ostrenga said. "If there's anything we can do to at least make it more difficult for people to make a bad decision, in my opinion, I think it's a step forward for the health of our community."

The liquor and tobacco control commission will review staff suggestions for how a new tobacco age ordinance could be written before making a recommendation to the city council.

Will Illinois raise age to buy cigarettes to 21?

Illinois Senate approves raising age to buy cigarettes to 21

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