National Age To Smoke Could Go From 18 To 21

Back in April of this year we told you that Walgreen's would be raising the age to buy tobacco products from 18-21.  That, of course, is their prerogative as they were not under any legal obligation to do so.  Since then the major uproar has been the availability of e-cigarettes and other products like them getting into the hands and mouths of minors; not to mention the health risk findings that have just recently been presented.  This has pushed the issue onto the national radar.

According to an article on clickondetroit.com, Congress is moving to pass the biggest new sales restrictions on tobacco products in more that 10 years.  And, believe it or not, they have backing from Marlboro-cigarette maker Altria and vaping giant Juul Labs.  The legislation would raise the minimum age to purchase all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 nationwide, a step long-sought by health advocates. But in the past year Juul and Altria have emerged as the biggest supporters of the measure, blanketing Capitol Hill with lobbyists and advertisements touting their support for a national “Tobacco 21” law.