Question about denying an 18 year old cigarettes
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:39 am
Real-life situation:
Maryland passed a law that increases the age to buy cigarettes to 21. It takes effect tomorrow (October 1). I had no idea that this law was being passed (tbh, I don't care because I am in my thirties). The only reason I now know is because I noticed the little electronic sign at a 7/11 this morning had the date for "you must have been born on or before" set to 21 years ago. I asked about it and the clerk told me about the new law.
I was telling a buddy in passing about it and he jokingly asked "could someone sue that 7/11 for refusing to sell them cigarettes before the law goes into effect?" Not that I care, but I thought it was an interesting legal question.
Maryland's anti-discrimination law prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating against customers based on age. Obviously, the State can set the age for buying a pack of smokes and 7/11 needs to follow it. But as of today, that law says 18.
Question: does a 7/11 that refuses to sell a pack of cigarettes to and 18 year old (an otherwise legal transaction) because they are 18 violate Maryland's anti-discrimination act?
Maryland passed a law that increases the age to buy cigarettes to 21. It takes effect tomorrow (October 1). I had no idea that this law was being passed (tbh, I don't care because I am in my thirties). The only reason I now know is because I noticed the little electronic sign at a 7/11 this morning had the date for "you must have been born on or before" set to 21 years ago. I asked about it and the clerk told me about the new law.
I was telling a buddy in passing about it and he jokingly asked "could someone sue that 7/11 for refusing to sell them cigarettes before the law goes into effect?" Not that I care, but I thought it was an interesting legal question.
Maryland's anti-discrimination law prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating against customers based on age. Obviously, the State can set the age for buying a pack of smokes and 7/11 needs to follow it. But as of today, that law says 18.
Question: does a 7/11 that refuses to sell a pack of cigarettes to and 18 year old (an otherwise legal transaction) because they are 18 violate Maryland's anti-discrimination act?