Lawmakers looking to snuff out teen smoking by making 21 minimum age to purchase tobacco, vape

Lawmakers looking to snuff out teen smoking by making 21 minimum age to purchase tobacco, vape products


INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers would have to be at least 21 years old to purchase cigarettes, other tobacco products or electronic cigarette liquids containing nicotine, under legislation approved 8 to 2 Wednesday by a Senate committee.

Senate Bill 425 ups the minimum age to purchase cigarettes from 18 in an effort to reduce Indiana's 21.8 percent smoking rate — seventh-highest out of the 50 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, the sponsor, said smoking kills more than 11,000 Hoosier adults each year, is responsible for $2.93 billion in annual health care costs and adds $982 to the federal and state tax burden of each Indiana household.

"If we can stop young people from getting addicted, we lower the number of smokers and the smoking rate per capita here in the state of Indiana, we have healthier people and lower health care costs," Head said.

Read more: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lawmakers-looking-to-snuff-out-teen-smoking-by-making-minimum/article_fffc578c-bd1a-5037-8d71-b9439017c461.html