Twin Cities Suburb Expected to Make Tobacco Buying Age 21

EDINA, Minn. (AP) --  A Twin Cities suburb is poised to become the first city in
Minnesota to raise the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21.

The Edina City Council is expected to approve the measure Tuesday evening.

Edina Mayor Jim Hovland says the measure is comparative to the move to
eliminate smoking in public places, which began at the local level and trickled
up to the Legislature. Hovland says the proposed ordinance has broad community
support in Edina.

National Association of Tobacco Outlets executive director Tom Briant says he
is convinced the ordinance won't curb youth tobacco use because people simply
will drive to stores in nearby communities to buy what they want. He says
retailers will lose about 5 percent of their tobacco sales.