New York Raises Minimum Tobacco Purchase Age to 21

China e-cigarette news: On the 18th, New York City raised the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21. Before the end of his second term, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed this unprecedented law for a major U.S. city on November 19, 2013. After a six-month waiting period, the law took effect on the 18th. The new law specifies that not only are people under 21 prohibited from buying cigarettes, but anyone who cannot provide valid identification proving their age is also not allowed to buy them. Before handing over a pack of cigarettes, sellers must scan the buyer’s ID to verify its authenticity. The law also applies to other forms of tobacco and electronic cigarettes. New York has already adopted a series of tobacco-control measures, such as banning smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes in restaurants, bars, parks, plazas, and public beaches. Some private apartment buildings also prohibit smoking. New York’s cigarette tax is also the highest in the United States.