City of Columbus

Don’t buy tobacco – or any tobacco products and paraphernalia – if you’re under age 21. It’s against the law for someone to sell it to you. 

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. It kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.

To help combat these preventable deaths in our community, the City of Columbus enacted a Tobacco 21 law that protects youth by reducing the devastating health and economic consequences of tobacco use.  

Tobacco 21 laws are an important step in protecting the health and safety of youth – and entire communities. By raising the age for tobacco products, electronic smoking devices and paraphernalia to age 21, we can reduce approximately 90% of new smokers from even starting the dangerous and addictive habit in the first place.

On December 12, 2016, Columbus City Council passed an ordinance that gave authority to Columbus Public Health to regulate tobacco retailers by licensing and enforcing civil fines associated with Tobacco 21. The Board of Health also passed relevant City Health Code on February 21, 2017.  The Board of Health recently amended City Health Code Chapter 248 language with new requirements, including prohibiting flavored tobacco products from being sold or given away in the City of Columbus beginning January 1, 2024. 

For more information about our Tobacco 21 Program Activities, please visit our Data Dashboard.

Need help quitting? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or click here for other local resources.