what is the legal age to buy cigarettes

As of December 20, 2019, the legal age to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is 21 years old in the United States. This federal law, known as Tobacco 21 or T21, applies to all retail establishments and persons with no exceptions, and it is illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product to anyone under 21 years old. Prior to this law, the legal age to purchase tobacco products was 18 in most states. Some states, such as New York, have also passed their own laws raising the minimum legal sales age to purchase tobacco and vapor products to 21 years old. It is important to note that some states may have additional restrictions or regulations on the sale of tobacco products to minors.