On Thursday, Tempe city officials discussed a potential tobacco ordinance that would regulate licensing for retailers and raise the age of purchase.

City Council aide Sara Keown explained the details of the ordinance. 

“So, our proposed Tempe tobacco ordinance is to increase the age from 18 to 21 for the purchase of tobacco products and implement the licensing fee and permit program which was an annual fee of $300," she said.

The move to raise the purchase age would align with federal law that changed the minimum age of buying tobacco products in 2019. Two public hearings are scheduled to be held in August and September to get feedback.