Byline: Jon Davis Daily Herald Staff Writer
Arlington Heights is taking steps to restrict the way tobacco products are displayed and sold. It's part of an effort to keep them out of the hands and lungs of minors.
While the exact language and restrictions have yet to be decided, village trustees agreed Monday night the coming ordinance should:
- Restrict displays of tobacco products to behind a sales or service counter,
- Require face-to-face sales of tobacco,
- Mandate that those who sell tobacco be at least 18 years old.
Trustees also agreed the measure should adopt Schaumburg's ban on cigarette vending machines.
"It's designed to minimalize access by minors to tobacco products," Trustee Stephen Daday said during a committee-of-the- whole session. "That's the primary thrust of this."
Village officials will now craft a specific ordinance for trustees to formally consider on a date to be set. That's likely to be in January because it's highly improbable an ordinance will be ready by Monday, which is the village board's next meeting and final gathering of 2001.
According to village health officials, 59 businesses are licensed to sell tobacco products. Of those, self-service cigarette displays were seen only in liquor stores and specialty tobacco shops - whose customers must be 21 and 18, respectively.
Self-service cigar and chewing tobacco displays were seen at 20 shops, however, and that's what bothers Daday, who cited research by the American Lung Association showing that theft of cigarettes from such displays are a major source of tobacco for minors.
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