Starting July 1, you must be 21 or older to buy tobacco products in Basalt.
A sales tax is also going into effect: Every pack of cigarettes sold will be taxed $2, and there is a 40 percent tax on the price of all other tobacco products.
The Basalt Police Department is in charge of making sure retailers comply. Town Manager Ryan Mahoney said the department likely will check two times per year, using someone under the age of 21 who will attempt to buy tobacco products.
In implementing the new law, the town is giving up around $16,000 from the state, but the tax is expected to bring in $27,000 to $29,000 annually.
Mahoney said the money is earmarked to be used for things like addiction education or other public health causes.
