Government
Health
States
This bill would prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21 under federal law. The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be responsible for enforcement through compliance checks and inspections, in addition to establishing requirements for ensuring that individuals under age 21 can’t buy tobacco. States would still be allowed to impose their own age requirements for tobacco as long as they’re at least as restrictive as the federal standard.
bill Progress
- Not enactedThe President has not signed this bill
- The house has not voted
- The senate has not voted
- senate Committees
Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationIntroducedNovember 8th, 2017
What is Senate Bill S. 2100?
Impact
People between 18 and 21 who’d otherwise legally purchase tobacco products; retailers; regulators; and tobacco companies.
Cost of Senate Bill S. 2100
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
More Information
In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced this bill to prohibit the sale of tobacco to people under age 21, instead of 18:
“Research shows that raising the minimum smoking age to 21 would save lives. In 2015, Hawai’i became the first state to raise the age limit, and since then, four other states have joined us. This bill would bring all 50 states together, so we can protect our young people from this addiction, and save lives in the process.”
Original cosponsor Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) added:
“With Big Tobacco constantly targeting our youth through new and flavored products, it’s no surprise that nearly all tobacco users began their addiction as kids or young adults. Across Illinois and the country, cities and states are fighting back with common-sense policies to shield kids from a lifetime of addiction. By raising the federal tobacco age of sale to 21, we can help prevent a new generation from tobacco-related disease, health care costs, and death.”
This legislation has the support of 11 cosponsors in the Senate, all of whom are Democrats.
Of Note: In August 2017, Oregon became the fifth state to raise the tobacco age of sale to 21 — joining California, Hawaii, Maine, and New Jersey.
Media:
- Cosponsoring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Press Release
- Maui Now
- American Heart Association (In Favor)
- American Academy of Family Physicians (In Favor)
Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: minemil / iStock)AKA
Tobacco to 21 Act
Official Title
A bill to prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21.
Less 18 year olds would be addicted to smoking. Smoking is an epidemic.
I don’t think so. It is my opinion that if an 18 year old is mature enough to die for the country then they are old enough to make up their own mind if they want to smoke, drink, gamble ect.
Just like alcohol, people under 21 will be able to get it whether or not the law changes. It’s unnecessary.
The government shouldn’t be telling adults what to do. This is overreach and it is offensive.
Yes, you shouldn't be able to drink, smoke, or sign up for the military until your 21. Next, raise the age to join the military. But if you don't want this raised then the age of drinking should be lowered to 18.
No, because at age 18 you are a legal adult, in my opinion when you’re an adult you should be able to choose what goes in and out of your body, even if it may be damaging. At 18 you can join the army and go die off in another country, but you can’t smoke a cigarette? I thought we were built on personal freedom and that big government shouldn’t interfere with our lives
If our military members are old enough to join and die for our great country, they are certainly old enough to smoke and drink.
Old enough to die for your country, but too young to kill yourself by smoking? Yeah that makes sense. 🤔
Yes it’s a good idea but those that were 18 before this is enacted should be grandfathered in. Ultimately it’s an adults own choice if they want to smoke or not
If tobacco isn’t going to be completely eradicated, we should at least do something! The bigger problem is children who live in homes of parents and grandparents who smoke in the house, not even giving their kids a chance to be healthy.
Tobacco is a horrible thing and the lobby for it is horrible as well. Yes by all means raise the age for it. There is nothing good about it.
In addition they should ban cigarettes. Make those who want it to roll their own. Will decrease consumption and improve health
As an adult who can vote and go to war you should be able to make your own choices. Regardless, this should be left to the states to decide.
This is silly bill that sounds good in theory but is absolutely pointless. Kids are going to smoke whether the age limit is 18 or 35. What a waste of time!
Teenagers are becoming addicted before 18. Restrictions have not been the answer. We need to focus on treatment and education.
If I can die for this country at 18, I think I should be allowed to drink and smoke for it as well.
Raising the age of sale will help keep tobacco out of high schools, where younger teens often obtain tobacco products from 18-year-olds. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined – and tobacco-related conditions cost the U.S. as much as $170 billion in health care expenditures each year. All great reasons to raise the age!
Just what we need, more government invasion. Since when has the function of the federal government been to tell people what to consume, , buy, etc?
You should be able to use any tobacco product if you are able to serve in the military.