title
Resolution in Support of Solly’s Law / Tobacco 21 to Protect Children from Vaping and Nicotine Addiction
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Department: |
City Council |
Meeting Date: |
5/4/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Salette Andrews |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-7815 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution; Attachment #2: T21 Did You Know; Attachment #3: T21 One-Pager |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to express City Council’s support for N.C. HB430/SB318, or “Solly’s Law,” which aims to protect children from the effects of vaping and nicotine addiction. Specifically, this legislation would raise the tobacco and nicotine sales age from 18 to 21, require retailer licensing to sell tobacco/nicotine products (which includes e-cigarettes), strengthen enforcement authority of inspections and penalties, and align North Carolina with federal law and national efforts to reduce youth nicotine consumption and addiction.
BACKGROUND:
North Carolina has seen a sharp increase in youth tobacco use, particularly e-cigarettes, in recent years. Statistics rank North Carolina as 6th in the nation for youth vaping, with 95% of tobacco users starting before age 21. The federal minimum tobacco sales age was raised to 21 from 18 in December 2019 (“Tobacco 21 Law” or “T21 Law”), and 44 states have followed suit, but North Carolina has not passed a T21 Law to bring itself into compliance with federal law. This results in an enforcement loophole where federal law requires retailers to restrict sales to those 21 and older, but North Carolina enforcement agencies are not allowed to cite retailers for selling to anyone age 18 or older.
A current bill under consideration in the North Carolina Legislature aims to curb and combat youth vaping and to close that enforcement loophole. It is referred to as “Solly’s Law,” in honor and memory of Solomon “Solly” Wynn, who was a student and an athlete at New Hanover High School, and who died at age 15 due to lung complications from vaping. Solly’s Law would raise the minimum age for tobacco and nicotine purchases (including e-cigarettes) from 18 to 21 in North Carolina. This would allow state enforcement agencies to enforce the federal age limit for those purchases. Additionally, Solly’s Law would establish a requirement for retailers to obtain a tobacco sales permit, similar to the alcohol permits already required for retail alcohol sales. Those sales would be monitored by the ABC Commission, and ALE would have authority to issue permits, conduct investigations, and impose sanctions for violations.
Passage of this resolution will honor the wishes of Solly’s family, friends, and community to honor his life with this law that will protect all NC youth from the harms of vaping and nicotine.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
N/A
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Passage of the resolution is recommended.