Sponsored by Republican Sens. Ralph Alvarado of Winchester and Danny Carroll of Paducah, SB 56 aims to reduce access to e-cigarettes among teens and young adults. “Vaping products are considered tobacco products and consequently, they would be under this law,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO of Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “And we’ve seen an epidemic in the use of those products by young people.”
Additionally, said Chandler, the bill would also help the state comply with the new federal law :Tobacco-Free Youth Act, that raises the national minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. “Studies have shown that if you raise the age to 21, middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, are much less likely to get hold of those products,” he pointed out.
Trump expected to sign nationwide “Tobacco 21” bill
The nationwide provision which has now been passed by the House and the Senate, is expected to be signed into law by Trump as part of the overall spending package. “This is a big win for public health,” said Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii, who had proposed the higher national age limit after it was implemented by his state. “Raising the minimum smoking and vaping age to 21 will protect our kids and save lives.”
Read Further: Public News Service
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