On Wednesday, eight Senators introduced bill S. 2100 that could raise the smoking age to 21 nationwide. The bill which was introduced by Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii);Dick Durbin (D-Illinois); Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio); Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts); Barbara Boxer (D-California); Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island); Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts); Senator Mazie Hirona (D-Hawaii); Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) also has the support of the American Lung Association.
According to the S.2100, Tobacco to 21 Act the legal age would to purchase tobacco would be raised to 21 and the bill has support of 7 out of 10 smokers.
The proposal and a list of special interest groups that have supported the measure can be found at https://www.schatz.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Tobacco%20to%2021%20Act%20Release%20Sheet_v2.pdf.
The entire bill which will also require retailers to request the ID of anyone purchasing tobacco regardless of age can be found at https://www.schatz.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/TAM15797.pdf
The House of Representatives has also introduced a companion bill led by Mark Takai (D-Hawaii) among others. In January, Hawaii will raise the tobacco age to 21 becoming the first state in the nation to do so.
