The push to raise the tobacco age to 21 is about to be in the national spotlight thanks to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will introduce a bill this May to raise the federal minimum purchase age to buy tobacco to 21. The bill will encompass all things tobacco including Cigars.
Currently 11 states have raised the tobacco purchase age to 21 along with over 450 cities and counties.
The move has seen the support from Altria who owns 30% of Juul as well being the owner of Nat Sherman. Earlier the month the company took out ads in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News and others calling for a nationwide Tobacco 21. Their CEO Howard Willard has even gone as far as writing opinion pieces calling for the law.
Today’s announcement was applauded by JUUL CEO Kevin Burns stating, “We commend Senator McConnell for announcing this legislation as we strongly support raising the purchasing age for all tobacco products, including vapor products, to 21 and have been actively supporting legislation to do this at the federal level and in states across the country.”
