Increasing the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products in the United States to 21 is projected to result in significant public health benefits. By delaying the age at which young people first try tobacco, the initiation rates among teenagers and young adults are expected to drop substantially.
We will also see a 30% decline in those who are 18 to 20 years old. ("Public Health Implications" (2015)
Among those who are 15 years or younger we will see a 15% decline in initiation rates ("Public Health Implications" (2015)
Once the age for buying tobacco products is increased to 21 years old, we will see a 25% decrease in the initiation rate Amon those 15-17 years of age ("Public Health Implications" (2015)
Decrease in revenue for tobacco retailers
Tobacco sales would decrease by approximately 2% for retailers (Winickoff et al., 2014)
Improve health
According to the Surgeon General, in 2014, we will lose 5.6 million youth the premature deaths if tobacco use continues in the same direction it has been on. ("Where We Stand", 2017)
Each year there are approximately 500,000 premature deaths due to tobacco use ("Where We Stand", 2017)
Sources
Where We Stand: Raising the Tobacco Age to 21 (2017, October 23) Retrieved from: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/tobacco-prevention-efforts/where-we-stand-raising-tobacco-age-21
Winickoff J.P., Hartman L., Chen M.L., Gottlieb M., Nabi-Burza E., DiFranza J.R. (2014). Retail Impact of Raising Tobacco Sales Age to 21 Years. AMJ Public Health, 104(11), e18-e21.
Rob Crane, Micah Berman, & Matthew Myers. (2018). Tobacco 21: Prevention of nicotine addiction by increasing the minimum legal access age, US and international experience. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 16(1), 206-206.
Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products (2015, March) Retrieved from: http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/TobaccoMinAge/tobacco_minimum_age_report_brief.pdf
Reduce tobacco presence in schools
At least 59% of 18 to 19 year olds have been asked to buy tobacco products from someone younger than them and within their social circles. Raising the age of those allowed to purchase tobacco reduces the likelihood of those younger gaining access to these products. (Winickoff et al., 2014)
Reduce smoking prevalence
Reduce youth tobacco rate by 25% (Crane, Berman, Myers, 2018)
Adult smoking prevalence was reduced by 12% (Crane, Berman, Myers, 2018)
