[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Mount
Pleasant 9-25-2018 by L.L. No.
6-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Town Board hereby finds and determines that the Town of Mount
Pleasant has a substantial interest in reducing the number of individuals
of all ages who use cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products,
and a particular interest in protecting adolescents from tobacco dependence
and the illnesses and premature death associated with tobacco and
nicotine use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides
that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused
by smoking. Furthermore, smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke,
lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tobacco companies
sell products that are addictive and inherently dangerous, causing
cancer, heart disease, and other serious illnesses. Primary tobacco
use is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, directly causing
an estimated 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, more deaths
than are caused by the use of any other legal or illegal substance
or drug. An overwhelming majority of Americans who use tobacco products
begin using such products while they are adolescents and become addicted
before reaching the age of 18. The Surgeon General of the United States
has concluded that if young people do not start using tobacco by age
26, they almost certainly will never start. The effects of smoking
generated by the smoking of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and similar
articles pose a threat to the health, safety and well-being of youth
within the Town of Mount Pleasant. Therefore, it is the intent of
the Town of Mount Pleasant to reduce the youth smoking rate by prohibiting
the sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21.
B.
The Town Board further finds that the Town has a substantial interest
in responding to the increased use of electronic cigarettes and nicotine
delivery products among adolescents. E-cigarettes are now the most
commonly used tobacco product among youth, having surpassed conventional
cigarettes in 2014. Public health authorities and agencies, including
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Surgeon General,
have advised that the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine delivery products
poses significant and avoidable health risks to young people.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any article or product made wholly or in part of a tobacco
substitute or otherwise containing nicotine that is expected or intended
for human consumption, but not including a tobacco substitute prescribed
by a licensed physician or a product that has been approved by the
United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco use
cessation or harm reduction product or for other medical purposes
and which is being marketed and sold solely for that approved purpose.
Nicotine delivery products include, but are not limited to, e-cigarettes,
vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, lozenges or other candy, drinks, and
inhalers.
A person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, sole proprietor,
limited partnership or association.
Any retail service establishment whose primary purpose is
to sell or offer for sale to consumers, but not for resale, any goods,
wares, merchandise, articles, other things or services. "Retail store"
shall include retail food stores but shall not include restaurants
as defined herein.
One or more cigarettes or cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco,
powdered tobacco, blunt papers or wrappers, cigarette rolling papers
of any kind, or any other tobacco products.
A.
No person shall sell tobacco products, liquid nicotine products or
nicotine delivery products in the Town of Mount Pleasant unless the
sale of such products is controlled by an employee of the establishment.
A person may only sell tobacco products or nicotine delivery products
in a direct, face-to-face exchange between the retailer and the consumer.
Self-service displays of tobacco products or nicotine delivery products
shall be prohibited.
B.
No person shall sell tobacco products, liquid nicotine products or
nicotine delivery products to any person under the age of 21 years
or, not being his/her parent or guardian, give tobacco products or
nicotine delivery products to any person under the age of 21.
C.
The sale of tobacco products, liquid nicotine products and nicotine
delivery products shall only be made to an individual who demonstrates
through a government-issued photographic identification, containing
the bearer's date of birth that no person purchasing the tobacco
or nicotine containing products is younger than 21 years of age. No
such verification is required for any person who reasonably appears
to be over the age of 26. No clerk shall sell tobacco products or
nicotine delivery products to a person under 21 years of age who has
a note from an adult requesting such sale.
A.
Retail establishments where tobacco products or nicotine delivery
products are sold shall conspicuously post and reasonably maintain
signs where these products are displayed and at all check-out counters
notifying customers that proof of age is required to purchase tobacco
products or nicotine delivery products. Such signs shall be imprinted
the following statement:
(1)
Sale of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, powdered tobacco, shisha
or other tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, liquid nicotine, electronic
cigarettes, rolling papers or smoking paraphernalia, to persons under
21 years of age is prohibited by law.
(2)
Such sign shall be printed on a white card in red capital letters
at least 3/4 inch in height.
The Police Department of the Town of Mount Pleasant shall enforce
the provisions of this chapter.
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine not to exceed $350 for a first offense, $700 for the second
offense, and $1,000 for each subsequence offense or by imprisonment
not to exceed six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
