In the United States, the minimum legal age to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products is 21 years old. This change was implemented after the federal Tobacco 21 law was passed on December 20, 2019, and signed by President Donald Trump
. The law prohibits the sale of any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes, to anyone under 21 years of age
. This change was made to reduce youth tobacco use and save lives, as the majority of smokers (90%) start by age 18
. The law also aims to prevent older high school students and young college students from buying tobacco products for younger friends, as youth brains are susceptible to the addictive properties of nicotine
. This change aligns the legal age for purchasing tobacco products with the legal age for purchasing alcohol, which is also 21 years old
