On Monday, a Springfield ordinance prohibiting tobacco and e-cigarette sales to anyone under the age of 21 went into effect.

Assistant Director Jon Mooney with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department says this will be a time of education for both retailers and the public involving Springfield Tobacco 21.

Mooney says the health department will also be following up face to face the coming months to answer any questions they might have.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says Springfield Tobacco 21 will mean the retailers and the public will need to know the new requirements.

Council also did say the fine would be waived involving the under aged buyer but the business will still be subject to any fines if they violate the ordinance.

(Information provided by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

Tobacco 21—a Springfield ordinance prohibiting tobacco and e-cigarette sales to anyone under 21 years of age—goes into effect today, July 16, 2019.

On Monday, July 15, Springfield City Council unanimously voted to approve the ordinance which had first been discussed in late May.

The ordinance includes both traditional tobacco products as well as e-cigarettes, also called vape pens.

The intent of this ordinance is to reduce youth tobacco initiation. According to the Institutes of Medicine, 96 percent of current smokers started smoking before the age of 21.

Although the prohibition of selling these products to those under 21 begins today in Springfield, the focus of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department will be educating retailers and the public on the new requirements, not immediate enforcement. Our goal is to provide adequate time to educate and create awareness around the new ordinance before any tickets are issued.

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been developed on the Health Department website at health.springfieldmo.gov/T21