Last December, the Deerfield Board of Trustees approved an ordinance to raise the minimum legal purchase, sale, and possession age for tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 years of age. The ordinance went into effect on January 1, 2017.

“We care deeply about our youth. Statistics have shown that the earlier one begins to smoke, the quicker and stronger the addiction,” stated Mayor Harriet Rosenthal. “We will do whatever we can to help our kids make healthy choices.”

“The Lake County Health Department commends the Village of Deerfield for leading efforts in prevention and public health. Raising the minimum legal purchase, sales and possession age of tobacco products to 21 years of age is a profound step in helping to shape positive community norms surrounding youth substance use and decreasing youth use of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. “Delaying onset of smoking prevents long term smokers. Ninety-five percent of adult smokers began before the age of 21. Thank you for once again being a leader in Lake County and setting a positive example for other communities in Lake County to follow.”

Deerfield is the second community in Lake County and the sixth in Illinois to pass a Tobacco 21 ordinance. The other Illinois municipalities include: Evanston, Chicago, Oak Park, Naperville, and Highland Park. Tobacco 21 laws are moving across the nation with 200 localities in 14 states already passing Tobacco 21 legislation. Two states, California and Hawaii, passed statewide legislation in 2016.

For technical assistance on tobacco policy development or for more information about tobacco sales restrictions and regulations, please contact Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center's Tobacco Free Lake County program at 847.377.8090 or Danielle Ryan, Community Health Specialist, at: [email protected]