Journal & Topics Media Group

Glenview Trustees Approve New Restrictions In First Read Of Tobacco Ordinance

Local Law To Match Tobacco State Age Hike From 18 To 21

Map from a Glenview village board report shows areas of the village 1,000 feet from “sensitive sites” where sales of tobacco products by new businesses would not be allowed.

Glenview trustees voted unanimously to approve new rules for smoking, vaping and businesses selling tobacco products on first reading at the Tuesday, Aug. 20 village board meeting.

The new village ordinance regulates the “sale and possession of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products.” The new law does not address recreational marijuana, which will be legal in the state next year.

The new rules come as a recent change to state law hikes the age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois from 18 to 21. The new village ordinance mirrors state law, increasing the age to 21. The new law does allow those 18 and over to be in possession of tobacco products.

The new rules allow existing businesses, which sell tobacco, to be grandfathered in and continue selling as they have.

New businesses would have to maintain a 1,000-foot buffer around existing certain sites including public or private preschools, elementary, secondary schools, junior colleges or universities, day care centers, day care homes, or group day care homes, part day child care facilities, playgrounds, public libraries, or other buildings “used for educational or recreational programs for persons under the age of 21 years.”

The resulting map leaves few areas where new businesses selling tobacco products could open.

The new law also closes a loophole in the state law. State law bars smoking indoors in public places. The state law was written before electronic or “e-cigarettes” existed and defines smoking in a way which does not apply to e-cigarettes and vaping. The Glenview ordinance closes that loophole, treating smoking via traditional cigarettes, cigars, vaping or using tobacco by other means, the same.

The new law also bans businesses from giving away free promotional tobacco products on any, “right-of-way, park, playground or other property owned by the village, any school district, park district or public library.”

The new law sets zoning districts where tobacco sales are allowed and removes the designated zoning use of cigar store and tobacconist.

Final adoption of the new rules is expected by trustees at their Tuesday, Sept. 3 meeting.

Support local news by subscribing to the Journal & Topics in print or online.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.