GF council to revisit smoking law changes

Some questions have been raised as to recent council action that updated city codes related to smokes and booze.

One of the changes moves the age for selling tobacco products from 18 to 21.   Store employees who are younger than 21 can complete the transaction as long as they are being supervised by someone who meets the 21 age requirement.

Haley Thorson of Grand Forks Public Health says the issue was raised by the city attorney in response to the minimum legal sales age for buying tobacco products being upped to 21.

Council President Dana Sande says upon further review the council may consider rolling the age for selling smokes back to 18 after few store owners said it could create some staffing issues.  There were no changes in state law regarding the age for selling tobacco.

On Monday the council is expected to give final approval to an ordinance change lowering the age from 19 to 18 for serving and collecting money for alcoholic beverages in a restaurant.  Just as with tobacco sales the server would have to be under the supervision of a person 21 or older.

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