It’s Now Illegal To Buy Cigarettes And Tobacco Products If You’re Under 21

If you don’t smoke or you just haven’t been keeping up with the new over the holidays, December 27 marked the beginning of a new law making it illegal to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.

  1. It’s a controversial change, to be sure. The new law passed by Congress on December 20 and put into action on Friday means that no one under the age of 21 can buy cigarettes, cigars, or even e-cig products like Juul pods in the United States. As you probably know, that age was previously 18.
  2. It won’t be new everywhere. Roughly one-third of US states already had their own laws making the legal purchasing age 21, so they won’t see a change. However, Congress’s new bill puts that policy into effect across the country immediately. While it generally takes time for laws to be enacted, since this was just a change to an existing law rather than a completely new one, there was no delay.
  3. Authorities hope this with curtail smoking rates in young people. While young adult smoking rates have been steadily declining, going down to only 10% in 2018, lawmakers hope that the change in law will help lower that number even further. “This is a major step in protecting the next generation of children from becoming addicted to tobacco products,” new FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn tweeted last week.
  4. While it’s unlikely to deter all teens, it is a step in the right direction. You’re not allowed to buy alcohol until you’re 21 as well, but that still doesn’t keep plenty of teenagers from accessing and drinking it. That being said, putting a small roadblock in the way could go a little way in keeping some kids from starting smoking in the first place. That’s not to say that teens won’t still find a way to get a hold of tobacco products, but the less people in general who smoke, the better for all of us.
Bolde has been a source of dating and relationship advice for single women around the world since 2014. We combine scientific data, experiential wisdom, and personal anecdotes to provide help and encouragement to those frustrated by the journey to find love. Follow us on Instagram @bolde_media or on Facebook @BoldeMedia
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