The tables have turned in the battle against tobacco
Tobacco addiction has become a significant issue across the nation, from vaping, to underage use, to purchasing tobacco. As of Dec. 20, 2019, a new law regarding the purchase of tobacco products has been passed. The United States federal government has officially raised the age for purchasing tobacco products and vapes to 21 years old.
The battle against Big Tobacco companies to prevent the dangers of smoking and addiction has been raging on for years. Recently, the creation of e-cigarettes and vape products have brought this fight to a new level. The devices have significantly added to the current “nicotine epidemic,” which describes the addiction of thousands of teens and adults to nicotine because of both vapes and cigarettes.
Many states have taken their own approaches to preventing teen tobacco use. In 2016, California raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 through an amendment to the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act. The California Senate is now reviewing a bill to ban all flavored and menthol e-cigarettes in Senate Bill 793, co-authored by state Sen. Jerry Hill from San Mateo.
Lynn Baum, NPHS Health teacher, believes that these flavors should have been banned long ago. “Even now that they’re making laws to get rid of flavors, it’s going to be too late for the kids that are already addicted,” Baum said. “Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances in the world.”
Furthermore, 17 other states have also raised the tobacco age to 21, along with Washington, DC, according to The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
On Dec. 20, 2019, the federal government decided to step in. “The President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years,” states the FDA website. The FDA now has 180 days to update its regulations to comply with the new law and the other 31 states must adjust in order to comply as well.
According to the National Academy of Medicine, “Tobacco 21” could prevent 223,000 deaths among people born between 2000 and 2019 and reduce lung cancer deaths by 50,000 people. Moreover, smoking initiation could be reduced by 25 percent for 15 to 17 year olds. As most teens rely on their friends who are above the age of 18 to get them these items, the law will now help prevent that transfer from happening.
