US poised to raise tobacco buying age from 18 to 21

Anti-smoking advocates say industry support for legislation is a calculated effort to head off even harder-hitting restrictions

Congress is moving to pass the biggest new sales restrictions on tobacco products in more than a decade, with support from two unlikely backers: the Marlboro cigarette maker, Altria, and the vaping giant Juul.

The legislation would raise the minimum age to purchase all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 nationwide, a step long sought by health advocates. But in the past year Juul and Altria have emerged as the biggest supporters of the measure, blanketing Capitol Hill with lobbyists and advertisements touting their support for the “Tobacco 21” law.

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from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/38QYUzm