Effective immediately, Hawaii County (Big Island of Hawaii) now prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, making them only the fourth municipality in the country to take this step. The Hawaii County law will also prohibit the purchase of electronic cigarettes and all liquids for electronic cigarettes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not, to anyone under 21. Anyone who turned 18 before July 1, 2014 is grandfathered in and are still allowed to buy tobacco products. Jessica Yamauchi, the director of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii was delighted by the news. Yamauchi stated, "It is starting to catch on. Hawaii island is first (in the state). It was introduced at the state Legislature this past legislative session. It passed through one committee on each side and just didn't get another hearing. If you can prevent them from starting before the age of 21, there's very little chance they'll become regular, addicted smokers."
Under the new law anyone caught selling or distributing tobacco products of electronic smoking devices to an underage customer (under 21 years old) will be subject to a maximum $2,000 fine.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-1-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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