Reed & Whitehouse Back Effort to Increase Legal Smoking Age to 21

Statement

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined eight other Senators in introducing the Tobacco to 21 Act (S. 2100), legislation that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Most states, including Rhode Island, allow tobacco sales at age 18.

"Smoking is toxic, addictive, and unhealthy for people at any age. We want to cut youth smoking rates and prevent young people from getting hooked. Raising the national age to buy tobacco products to twenty-one will help save lives. And cutting down on the number of new smokers each year will also generate significant health savings for taxpayers," said Senator Reed, noting that tobacco use costs the United States approximately $170 billion in direct medical costs every year.

"The choice to smoke comes with very serious and lasting health consequences, and has cost our country millions of lives through the years," said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. "The Institute of Medicine has shown that raising the age for purchasing tobacco will lead to fewer smokers, reduce how much people smoke, and ultimately save lives. I'm committed to acting on these findings and that's why I'm glad to support this bill."

Source