In a unanimous vote aimed at limiting underage access to harmful products, the Milledgeville City Council has approved a resolution preventing new convenience stores, food marts and vape shops from opening within city limits.

The measure, adopted in late January, is intended to curb the sale of vaping products and other age-restricted items to minors. According to reporting by The Union-Recorder, city leaders said the resolution is part of an effort to reduce the concentration of businesses that primarily sell tobacco, nicotine and similar products, particularly in areas frequented by young people.

The resolution applies only to new businesses and does not require existing stores to close. City officials have said the goal is to prevent further growth of establishments that could make it easier for underage residents to obtain restricted products.

While council members framed the move as a public health and safety measure, the decision has prompted mixed reactions among students, many of whom say they understand the reasoning but question its effectiveness.

Haley Hobson, a junior business management major, said she believes the city is trying to address a legitimate concern but doubts the policy will achieve its intended outcome.

“I’m sure they’re just trying to crack down on underage kids obtaining vapes,” Hobson said. “But honestly, it’s a business, and if they’re doing it legally, they shouldn’t be closing down the convenience stores and vape shops.”

Hobson argued that restricting new stores may not significantly reduce underage vaping because students determined to obtain the products will likely find alternative methods.

“These students are gonna find vapes, whether it’s legal or not,” she said. “Closing the convenience store, it’s not going to change anything.”

Others see the issue as more nuanced. Sarah Loncon, a senior English major, said she has mixed feelings about the resolution. While she expressed concern that the policy could limit economic opportunity and consumer choice, she also acknowledged that downtown Milledgeville already has several vape shops.

“I think it is not a good decision because it’s kind of taking away people’s rights, but we also already have vape shops downtown, and I don’t think we need any more,” Loncon said. “So it’s kind of an in-between decision.”

Loncon said the measure may not drastically change the availability of vaping products but could influence what types of businesses choose to invest in the area in the future.

Khiya Williams, a junior majoring in English, Spanish and interdisciplinary studies, suggested the resolution could create space for different kinds of businesses to move downtown.

“Maybe it’s a good thing to give other shops an opportunity to open up there, but I’m not sure that’s gonna change much,” Williams said.

Williams also emphasized that the impact extends beyond college students. While much of the discussion has focused on underage vaping among young people, she said residents who are of legal age could also be affected by the decision.

“There’s more than just college kids here. Locals look [for vapes] here too,” she said. “So I guess it’s kind of putting locals that would want to go downtown and find something like that at a disadvantage. This is unfair because we already, at the college, put locals at a huge disadvantage.”

The council’s action reflects broader concerns across Georgia and the nation about youth access to vaping products. Federal and state laws prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to anyone under 21, but enforcement remains a challenge in many communities. By limiting the number of businesses that sell such products, city leaders appear to be taking a preventative approach rather than relying solely on enforcement measures.

For now, the resolution signals a clear stance from city leaders: no additional vape shops or similar establishments will be permitted to open in Milledgeville. Existing businesses will continue to operate under current regulations, but future entrepreneurs seeking to open new food marts, convenience stores or vape shops will be denied approval under the new policy.

As the city moves forward, students and residents alike will be watching to see whether the decision has a measurable impact on underage vaping and the local business landscape — or whether, as some students predict, little will ultimately change.