You can now add Connecticut to the list of states that have raised the Tobacco purchase age to 21 as Democrat Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 7200 into law. The bill had passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 124-22 and the Senate with a tally of 33-3.
The new law will see those who sell tobacco to those under 21 fined $300, with a second offense of $750 and a third offense costing the violator $1,000.
Additionally the new law raises the license to sell tobacco from $50 to $200.
The new law goes into effect on October 1, 2019
Connecticut joins Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington in raising the tobacco purchase age to 21. While New York has sent a bill to the Governors desk where it currently await a Gubernatorial signature or veto.
There are currently a number of bills on the National stage looking to create to raise the tobacco age on a Federal level.
