N.H. raises age to purchase tobacco products

On Dec. 20, when President Trump signed a bill changing the legal age to purchase tobacco products in the United States to 21 years old.

So far, 18 states have complied. In New Hampshire, however, the bill to raise the tobacco legal age from 18 to 21 fizzled in the Senate. Governor Chris Sununu, however, refused to sign the budget last June and reached a compromise where the age was raised to 19 years old.

The New Hampshire Senate recently voted to raise the age to comply with federal standards, and some communities in New Hampshire have already changed it to 21 years old.

The change of the legal age to purchase tobacco, including smoking and vaping products, has caused many young adults to voice their opinions, especially those people who are 18 years old and had already been buying tobacco products.

“It’s really annoying that the age was raised because now I can’t buy stuff legally anymore,” said an 18-year-old PA senior [Students interviewed for this article requested anonymity].

Others believe the law will do little to stop teens from using tobacco products.

“There are lots of places that don’t card so really the law doesn’t make a difference,” a 15-year-old PA sophomore.

The American Lung Association points out that people who start smoking at an early age are more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine, as opposed to those who start at a later in life.

An estimated 5.6 million of today’s youth under age 18 eventually will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease, according to The American Lung Association.

Still, some students see the age of 18 as a complete demarcation of adulthood.

“If you’re an adult at 18 years old then that should be the legal age for everything,” said a 17-year-old senior. “The legal age for smoking, drinking and all that should be the same age as when you legally become an adult.”