California Leads the Nation in Tobacco Control Policies as Federal Minimum Age Rises to 21
In a major shift, the United States has raised the federal minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. This change, which went into effect in December 2019, supersedes local ordinances and is now the law in all states, including California.
California, however, has been ahead of the curve when it comes to tobacco control policies. In 2016, the state passed the Tobacco 21 law, which raised the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. The law also regulates electronic cigarettes the same as other tobacco products and establishes an annual licensing fee of $265 on e-cigarette retailers.
According to a study, smoking behavior in 18-20 year-olds in California was affected after the Tobacco 21 policy was implemented, compared to states without such a policy. Additionally, in California, flavored shisha/hookah tobacco can only be sold in licensed retail stores that only admit persons 21 or older and operate following all state and/or local laws.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is responsible for enforcing and implementing tobacco laws in the state. The American Lung Association has also provided state-level tobacco control policy grades and highlights for California, which are more stringent than in many other states.
The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) has previously analyzed the potential impact of the 1998 Tobacco Settlement on California, underscoring the state's commitment to reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks.
As the federal minimum age of sale for tobacco products has now been raised to 21, California's existing Tobacco 21 law and other comprehensive tobacco control policies position the state as a leader in the nation's efforts to curb tobacco use and its devastating consequences.