Oregon’s minimum tobacco sales age rises to 21 on Jan. 1

On Aug. 9, Gov. Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 754 into law, raising the minimum age for a person to legally buy tobacco products, inhalant delivery systems, and tobacco product devices from 18 to 21. Enforcement of the law takes effect on Jan. 1, Deschutes County health officials reminded Tuesday.

U nder the new law, retailers that sell tobacco must post a sign about the prohibition of selling tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems to people younger than 21 years old. Retailers are also required to place tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems in a location where customers cannot access them without the assistance of an employee.

Required retailer signs can be downloaded here: https://www.deschutes.org/health/page/tobacco-21

The Oregon Health Authority and Deschutes County Health Services encourage local retailers to take the following steps:

Talk with employees and customers about the law. Provide training to employees on how to educate patrons and customers on the law, as well as how to comply w ith the law. Provide support for employees who smoke to quit. Encourage them to call Oregon’s toll-free QUIT LINE at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or, for Spanish at 855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335356-92), or Go to www.quitnow.net/oregon or www.quitnow.net/oregonsp (Spanish). Oregon is now the fifth state in the nation to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21.

“Raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21 years old is an evidence-based strategy that will help reduce youth initiation of tobacco,” the county news release said. “Nine out of ten adults who smoke report that they started smoking before they turned 18, and almost 100 percent start before they turn 26.

For additional information, visit: https ://www.deschutes.org/health/page/tobacco- 21