Vermont Business Magazine The American Lung Association today applauded and thanked Senators Virginia Lyons and Deborah Ingram and the Vermont Legislature for passing legislation (S.86) to raise the age of sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. The House passed it last week 124-14. It would take effect September 1, 2019.
Elizabeth Hamlin-Berninger, Director of Advocacy in Vermont for the American Lung Association said: “Tobacco is a highly addictive product, and close to 95 percent of smokers try their first cigarette by the age of 21. With youth e-cigarette use already at epidemic levels, raising the age of sale to 21 would be a significant victory for public health and in the interest of protecting our young people from a dangerous and lifelong addiction.
According to the 2019 State of Tobacco Control Report, over 18 percent of Vermont high school students reported using tobacco products and the use of e-cigarettes by our youth is an epidemic that demands bold action. With adolescents and young adults proving to be uniquely vulnerable to the effects of nicotine and nicotine addiction, we must not delay this important, life-saving legislation any longer. In fact, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) found increasing the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products to 21 could prevent 223,000 deaths among people born between 2000 and 2019, including 50,000 fewer dying from lung cancer – the nation’s leading cancer killer. Some of those children are Vermont’s children – and this legislation might just save their lives by stopping them from using tobacco before they start.”
"Thanks to Senator Lyons and Senator Ingram who showed true leadership on this issue - and we implore Governor Phil Scott to sign the legislation into law swiftly”
To date, statewide Tobacco 21 policies have been passed in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Illinois, Arkansas, Hawaii, Utah, California, Washington, Oregon, Delaware and Washington D.C., requiring consumers to be 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products. Other states such as New York and Connecticut are currently considering similar legislation.
Source: Williston, VT (April 30, 2019) The American Lung Association