A recent survey shows significant support behind raising the
minimum age for tobacco purchases across the nation. An increased legal age
could lead to a significant drop in the smoking rate, according to a National
Academy of Medicine report conducted in 2015. If the legal age is upped only a
few years, to 21, the nation could experience a 12% decrease in smoking.
By increasing the age and essentially restricting tobacco
usage, it’s inevitable that fewer Americans will take up smoking altogether –
by not starting. If fewer adolescents start smoking, they’ll be much less
likely to smoke as adults, preventing common tobacco-related side effects like
cancer and heart disease.
The survey, which polled 4,800 adult Americans across all
regions of the United States, asked participants if they were in support of
raising the legal age to 19, 20, or 21. The majority of participants said yes –
they were in favor of the change – and support even spanned across political
parties. Dr. Adam Goldstein, lead researcher from the University of North
Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Center, said most Americans can agree to
the age change, regardless of their political stance.
When pollsters further analyzed the results, they noticed
that women, Hispanics, non-whites, non-smokers, and participants older than 21
were more likely to support the age increase.
Responses varied in different parts of the country, but
overall, the majority of states support raising the minimum legal age. 73% of
people surveyed in 4 states in the south (including Texas and Louisiana) were
in favor of the change, while 59% of participants in the Midwestern region
(including Iowa and Kansas) were supporters. Dr. Goldstein is encouraged by the
findings. He believes that policy makers can use the data to make advancements
in their states – now that they know the public is in support of the change.
The increased legal age is already active in some states,
like Hawaii, which upped the tobacco sales age to 21 on January 1st.
New York City has increased their age as well, while many other cities are
beginning to follow suit. Goldstein believes the survey data will increase
momentum and help to motivate lawmakers. And, already, smoking rates are
dropping. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported
a 2% decrease in smoking rate from 2014 to 2015. This may not sound like a big
change, but it’s the largest decline the nation has seen in over 20 years.