The move to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 has found its first foothold in Ohio, as the city of Upper Arlington’s board of health voted 7-0 to make the change at its meeting on Monday evening. The new ordinance comes with fines of a maximum of $150 for the first offense in a year, $250 for a second offense, and a maximum fine of $500 for any additional offenses in the same year, with each violation classified as a misdemeanor. The vote was first reported by 10TV.com, who also noted that the change will go into effect in 30 days, the earliest date permitted by law. Upper Arlington is a suburb of Columbus and has a population of just under 35,000 residents.
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