U.S. Senate OKs Higher Tobacco Age

The U.S. Congress would raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21 from 18 under a government spending bill unveiled on Monday.

If signed into law, the legislation would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration six months to develop regulations. The agency would then have three years to work with states on implementing the change.

The tobacco legislation was originally sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has broad bipartisan support.

Tobacco companies have also been pushing for a higher purchasing age, which they see less disruptive to their business than other measures that have been under discussion.

Earlier this year, federal authorities vowed they would “clear the market” of flavored products, but the Trump administration appears to have backtracked amid industry opposition and warnings that a flavor ban could cost the president votes in the 2020 election.

While welcoming a higher buying age, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) said the initiative shifts attention from efforts to ban flavored e-cigarettes.

“Juul and Altria have hijacked the tobacco 21 issue for their own nefarious reasons as a shield to fight efforts to prohibit flavored e-cigarettes,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the CTFK. “It is deeply disappointing that the budget agreement gives these tobacco companies what they want without addressing the crisis caused by flavored e-cigarettes.”

Republican and Democratic lawmakers hope to pass the $1.4 trillion spending bill before current government funding runs out on Saturday to avoid a partial government shutdown.