A majority of Americans agree on raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21, according to new data.
These results are based off an online survey by Styles of U.S. adults 18 and over and were published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.
Three out of 4 Americans agree to changing the minimum age of tobacco sales to 21. This includes 7 out of 10 smokers.
“Raising the minimum age of sale to 21 could benefit the health of Americans in several ways,” said Brian King, Ph.D., acting Deputy Director for Research Translation in CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “It could delay the age of first experimenting with tobacco, reducing the likelihood of transitioning to regular use and increasing the likelihood that those who do become regular users can quit.”
Most state policies for tobacco sales are 18 and over. Four states including Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah set 19 as a minimum age. Hawaii is the only state to have a 21 and older policy. However, several cities and counties across the U.S. passed laws requiring consumers to be 21.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that if all states raise the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products to 21, that would lead to a 12 percent decrease in cigarette smoking by 2100. This would mean nearly 250,000 fewer premature deaths from cigarette smoking among people born between 2000 and 2019.
To learn about tobacco policies across and nation and the globe, visit tobacco.org.
