Hoffman Estates may raise smoking, vaping age to 21

Hoffman Estates is poised to become the latest suburb to hike the age for possessing tobacco and electronic smoking products to 21.

Village trustees are scheduled to vote Monday on an amendment to the town's current tobacco ordinance raising the possession age to 21, as well as banning the sale of such products to anyone under 21.

Under the proposed amendment, anyone under 21 found with tobacco or an electronic smoking product would face a fine of up to $250. Anyone selling a tobacco or e-cigarette product to someone under 21 would face up to $500 in fines.

A business found guilty three times of selling such products to a customer under 21 could lose its license, under the proposed measure.

Numerous towns across the suburbs have hiked the age to either buy or possess, or both, tobacco and vaping products to over the past year, part of a statewide campaign to raise the age to 21. Among them are Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Barrington, Vernon Hills and Aurora.

The Hoffman Estates village board meets at 7 p.m. Monday, at village hall, 1900 Hassell Road.