A bill to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21-years-old nationwide has been introduced in the United States Senate, and it comes from a senator whose state recently passed a similar increase. Yesterday, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, introduced S.2100, which seeks to prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. Following its initial two readings, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The Tobacco to 21 Act, as it is being called, states simply that “notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any Federal regulation, it shall be unlawful to sell or distribute a tobacco product to anyone under the age of 21.” Enforcement would be handled by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and would include compliance checks, retailer inspections and establishing requirements that retailers check the identification of anyone attempting to purchase a tobacco product, as well as applying penalties under section 303 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The bill, which can be read in its entirety here, has already gained nine co-sponsors: Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.; Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Elizabeth ...
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