Walmart ups tobacco age

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has raised the minimum age for buying tobacco products to 21.

The measure, which was announced in May and came into force on Monday, affects all Walmart and Sam’s Club locations. It covers all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The retailer also plans to discontinue the sale of fruit-flavored and dessert-flavored electronic nicotine-delivery systems.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent letters warning Walmart and other retailers about illegal tobacco sales to minors. According to the FDA, Walmart passed 94 percent of 2,400 compliance checks in 2018.

The company said it was “not satisfied” in falling short of its goal of 100 percent compliance.

“We unequivocally acknowledge that even a single sale of a tobacco product to a minor is one too many,” the company wrote in its response to the FDA, “and we take seriously our responsibilities in this regard.”