Should the U.S. Raise the Minimum Legal Age for Smoking?

In a recent U.S. study, a committee of experts determined that raising the minimum legal age (MLA) for tobacco products from 18 to 21 would significantly reduce the initiation of tobacco use so that fewer Americans become addicted to nicotine. 

The study looked at the impact of raising the MLA to the various ages of 19, 21 and 25. While raising the MLA to 21 had a significant impact compared to 19, the difference between 21 and 25 was negligible so the committee recommends the age of 21.

First Post reports that “of the people who have ever smoked daily, 90 percent first tried a cigarette before 19 years of age, and nearly all others tried their first cigarette before the age of 26.” It therefore goes to follow that by waiting until people are more mature with their decision making before they can legally purchase tobacco products, fewer will opt to become smokers.

The American Heart Association is on board with this recommendation. In a press release, CEO Nancy Brown stated, “This thought-provoking IOM report reinforces what we’ve known all along – age matters when it comes to tobacco prevention.”

However, the FDA lacks the authority to enforce raising the minimum age for smoking at a federal level. It is up to state and local governments to make this change. Certainly, reducing the number of smokers will have a major impact on the overall heart-health of American citizens.