RI Senate Approves Bill Raising Smoking Age To 21

RHODE ISLAND — The Rhode Island state senate this week approved legislation that would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco and other nicotine products including e-cigarettes.

In a news release, the Rhode Island statehouse said the legislation updates state law to match federal law, which raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco in December 2019.

According to the release, a study from the Institute of Medicine found raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 reduces youth smoking by 25 percent.

The 2015 study also found fewer youth smokers reduces instances of low birth weights and prevents 4.2 million years of life lost to smoking in children.

In a statement, Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne said the legislation will help prevent addiction and save lives.

d“Most smokers start and become addicted when they are teenagers," she said. "Raising the legal age for tobacco purchases makes a significant difference in access for young people, reducing their likelihood to develop a potentially lethal lifelong addiction. The more we can hold off on young people starting smoking, the better the effect is on public health and families.”