DeWine calls for raising legal age to buy tobacco to 21

Ohio would become the latest state to increase the legal age to buy cigarettes under Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed two-year operating budget (Source: “DeWine calls for raising Ohio’s legal age to buy cigarettes to 21,” Columbus Dispatch, March 15, 2019).

DeWine wants to increase the threshold from 18 to 21 for all tobacco products in Ohio, including vaping and e-cigarette products.

“We know statistically that if we can get someone to 21 and they’re not smoking, the odds are very great that they’re not going to smoke,” DeWine said.

“Our smoking rates in Ohio are driving a lot of our Medicaid costs. They are harming families. Second-hand smoke is harming people. This is a public health issue.”

Seven states have raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21, as have about 450 local governments.