COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The Columbia/Boone County Board of Health has endorsed proposals to ban selling tobacco products to people younger than 21.
The board also approved on Thursday a proposal to add e-cigarettes to Columbia's restrictions on smoking inside public places, the Columbia Tribune reported.
The Columbia City Council last month sent the two proposals to the city's Substance Abuse Advisory Commission and health board before it would take a final vote on the measures. The commission OK'd both proposals Wednesday.
Ron Leone, the executive director of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, spoke against both proposals at the health board meeting. He argued the bills would conflict with state regulations. He recommended more enforcement of existing laws, such as requiring everyone selling cigarettes to check a person's ID.
The board opposes tobacco use, but spent much of its time discussing whether raising the minimum age to purchase a pack of cigarettes was appropriate.
"What's being suggested is not that cigarettes are bad for you," said board member Harry Feirman, adding if that was the case, then proposal would be to ban smoking altogether. "What the argument really seems to be, from my perspective, is that people at the age of 18 don't have the wherewithal to make informed judgments."
It's likely the City Council will consider the proposals next month since the health board and Substance Abuse Advisory Commission both approved the proposals.