Changes are coming to the way Milwaukee handles tobacco, including hookah, thanks to a new city ordinance up for discussion tomorrow. The Public Safety and Health Committee will deliberate on file #241661. It aims to update local tobacco regulations to align with federal standards – pushing the minimum age for sales from 18 to 21, as reported by the City of Milwaukee.
The ordinance, backed by Alderman Peter Burgelis and health organizations, is not just bureaucratic foot-dragging. It's a direct response to federal changes made in 2019. “In 2019, the federal government raised the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21, and it has been long overdue that Milwaukee update its ordinances to comply with the federal standard,” Burgelis stated. This plan also intends to rope in hookah, not typically the star of regulatory shows, but one that’s been gaining traction with the youth. Starting Thursday, venues that serve hookah will need a public entertainment premises license – further tightening the city's grip on tobacco-related health measures.
The ordinance slams the hammer down on illegal sales as well. Sellers caught distributing tobacco, vaping, or hookah products to minors could face fines up to $1,000, a significant jump from the current $500 ceiling. Moreover, retailers who neglect to display the required signage could see fines rocket from $25 to $250.
The committee meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. today, is expected to be thorough, as the health of Milwaukee's youth is balanced against the freedoms of sales and consumption. Whether this ordinance will pass as is, or face pushback, remains to be seen, it's undeniable that Milwaukee is taking a firmer stance against youth tobacco use. Stakeholders from the Tobacco-Free Alliance and American Lung Association will certainly be watching closely, hopeful that measures like these will kindle a smoke-free future for the coming generations.
