Cigarettes Becoming Taboo For Future 18 Year Olds

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , February 27, 2019 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – On the day I turned 18, I walked down to my local 7-Eleven and bought a pack of cigarettes (Parliaments, if I recall). I don’t smoke, but I was buying them for a friend (I know how sketchy that sounds, but honest to God that’s true). But I was also buying them just because I could. I was finally old enough to buy something “taboo” and I pounced at the chance, just to say I did.

But now across the country, it’s looking like future 18 year olds won’t have the opportunity bestowed upon me back in 1997. Just look at some of the recent headlines on our Industry Intelligence Dashboard:

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signs legislation banning people under 21 years old from buying tobacco and nicotine products, a measure enacted in a state known historically for its tobacco production 

Washington state's House of Representatives passes bill that would raise the age of sale for all tobacco products--including e-cigarettes--from 18 to 21 years old; bill now heads to the Senate 

Connecticut governor proposes raising the minimum age to use tobacco products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 years old, as well as taxing e-cigarette nicotine liquids at 75% of the wholesale price, the same as the cigarette tax rate 

Lawmakers in Maryland consider raising the age to purchase tobacco products--including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping devices--from 18 to 21 years old 

Indiana Senate Health Committee votes to advance bill raising the age to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old; it would also prohibit anyone under 18 from buying or possessing vaping liquids even if they don't contain nicotine 

Legislation that would raise minimum age to purchase cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, chewing tobacco and other products in Illinois to 21 makes it past its first legislative hurdle, winning approval of the state's senate chamber's Public Health Committee 

And then there’s my favorite:

Hawaii lawmaker introduces bill that would bar cigarette sales to people under the age of 100; the proposed law would effectively amount to a cigarette ban by 2024 

Looks like the future 18 year olds of this country will need to wait a few more years before purchasing their first Parliaments. Legally anyway.

Nevin Barich is the Food and Beverage Analyst for Industry Intelligence, which can help YOU better address your own industry challenges. We invite you to come take a look at our service. Call us today at 310-553-0008 and we’ll schedule you for a 15-minute demo.

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