Normal council to consider raising purchase age for tobacco and vaping to 21

Posted on November 16, 2018

The Normal Town Council will consider raising the age to buy smoking and vaping materials and implementing a tax on short-term rentals similar to the local hotel-motel tax. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – Smokers or vapers will have to be at least 21 to buy their materials in Normal under a proposed ordinance to be considered Monday by the town council.

The proposal raises the minimum age to buy tobacco or alternative tobacco products from 18 to 21. The ordinance would also prohibit use of electronic smoking devices in Normal town building and vehicles, where smoking is already prohibited.

A first violation would carry a $50 fine. The maximum fine would be $500. Violations would be considered petty offenses.

The Normal Town Council is also expected to consider implementing a six-percent tax on short-term rentals of private rooms or homes through websites such as Airbnb, VRBO and Homeaway. The rate is the same as the six-percent hotel-motel tax in Bloomington-Normal.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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