City of San Antonio enacts new tobacco ordinance Oct. 1 Published Sept. 19, 2018 By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Effective Oct. 1, 2018, a new tobacco ordinance will prohibit the sale or providing of tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age within the boundaries of the City of San Antonio. This includes tobacco products whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to a cigarette, e-cigarettes, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus (a smokeless, moist powder tobacco pouch), or an electronic smoking device or liquids used in electronic smoking devices. All synthetic tobacco products, tobacco free liquids, and CBD oils (cannabinoid oils) are included in the new ordinance. The city’s Tobacco 21 Ordinance does not include drugs, devices or combination products authorized for sale as tobacco cessation aids by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as nicotine patches. According to city officials, this public health measure will delay the age of first tobacco use, reduce the risk of youth becoming regular smokers, and help keep tobacco out of schools. The enforcement will primarily rest on retailers. There will not be a fine within the city for someone who is 18, 19 or 20 years old who purchases, uses or is found in possession of a tobacco product. The City of San Antonio website at http://www.sanantonio.gov/Tobacco21 states the sale or distribution of tobacco products to someone who is under 21 within the City of San Antonio is a Class C misdemeanor, and upon conviction, can result in a fine up to $500. For more information, visit https://www.sanantonio.gov/Tobacco21.