A new age for tobacco — raising the age to 21 is a smart move

We are encouraged to see that members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are getting serious about raising the minimum age to 21 years old to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. This will build on the momentum of several state and territorial legislatures that are working towards banning the sale and use of cigarettes to people under 21.

Why does age matter? We know that increasing the age at which young people can purchase tobacco products is emerging as a promising, commonsense strategy. This, combined with raising the price of tobacco products, will decrease the likelihood that a young person becomes addicted to nicotine. Twelve states, one territory and the District of Columbia have used similar policy strategies to decrease youth tobacco use in their jurisdictions, with over 30 percent of the nation now living in a jurisdiction with a state-wide tobacco 21 law.

Nevertheless, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000Americans and costing the nation about $170 billion in healthcare expenses each year. Tobacco use raises the risk of multiple forms of cancer, heart disease, emphysema, limb amputations and many other health conditions that diminish quality and years of life. Tobacco use is especially high among those with substance use disorders and mental illness, as well as a major contributor to high rates of prematurity in infants and premature death in adults.

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