Effective today, Delaware has raised the age of sale of tobacco products to 21.
The law, known as Tobacco 21, aims to reduce tobacco use, address the youth vaping epidemic and save lives.
“The use of tobacco-related products is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Delaware and across the country. Tobacco-related illnesses, such as lung cancer and heart disease, claim the lives of 1,400 Delawareans each year, and treatment of those illnesses costs Delaware families, businesses and the state more than $530 million annually,” stated Gov. John Carney. “We expect this law will help reduce the number of young people who use tobacco products, and hopefully prevent more young people from trying tobacco products in the first place.”
In 2018, more than 5,700 youths in the U.S. started to use e-cigarettes every day―driven in part by the rise of easily accessible and concealable fruit- and candy-flavored tobacco products as well as misleading information regarding health risks.
Backers of the law note that since nearly 95 percent of adult smokers report trying their first cigarette before the age of 21, raising the legal sales age can prevent some young people from starting. To date, 16 states have raised the sales age to 21.
Delaware has been making headway in reducing the smoking rate and a high rate of cancer deaths related to smoking with measures like the Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in most public places.
However, the rise of “vaping” with electronic cigarettes containing nicotine has led to fears that progress could be reversed and introduce more health problems.
Opponents of the higher age claim such legislation is turning Delaware into a “Nanny State” that is infringing on the rights of young people who can vote and join the armed services but are barred from buying alcoholic beverages or tobacco products.
National legislation to raise the tobacco sales age to 21 has been introduced with the co-sponsor being GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell from the tobacco-industry stronghold of Kentucky.
