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Tobacco sales to teens, no more!
California has increased the minimum age of sale for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21, for the first time in history.
This is a significant step forward in preventing a new generation of young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.
E-cigarettes are just as dangerous as conventional cigarettes.
“Contrary to popular belief, e-cigarette users don’t inhale or exhale water vapor. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol that pollutes the air. The aerosol is a mixture of nicotine, tiny particles of metals, and some of the same harmful toxic chemicals found in secondhand smoke.” Tobacco Free CA
Teens who use e-cigarettes are likely to begin smoking cigarettes. Tobacco smoke can cause irreversible damage to the developing brains of our youth.
Facts about the cigarette law changes and tobacco and youth:
California Tobacco 21 Law
· Governor Jerry Brown signed the landmark bills into law on May 4, 2016, effective June 9, 2016.
· California is the second state in the nation to raise the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21, following Hawaii.
· According to a 2015 Institute of Medicine study, increasing the minimum age of sale to 21 nationally would reduce smoking-related deaths by 10 percent – translating into 223,000 fewer premature deaths, and 50,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer.
· Each year as many as 34,000 Californians die from tobacco use, and an estimated 217,000 California youth ages 12 to 17 currently smoke cigarettes or use e-cigarettes.
Tobacco and Youth
· Research shows that the brain continues to develop until age 25, and nicotine exposure before that age may cause permanent brain damage and fuel a lifelong battle with addiction.
· According to the California Department of Education’s California Healthy Kids Survey, middle and high school teens are currently using e-cigarettes at much higher rates than traditional cigarettes.
· Recent longitudinal studies show teens who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start smoking within a year.
For more information, visit www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Tobacco.
I think this is great news!! I sometimes get caught up in the 18 / 21 adult age though. Maybe 18 year old shouldn’t be considered adults in any way?
I don’t think they should. I know I wasn’t making the best decisions at 18. I still had so much growing up to do!
This is a wonderful change in the law. It saddens me to see the number of young people in my area who smoke. It’s unbelievable to me that anyone does anymore with all we know about the dangers.
I totally agree with this increase in age, way to go California!