Raising the Minimum Age for Tobacco Purchasing to Prevent Adolescent Smoking

Strategic Insights -

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports policies that keep tobacco products out of the hands of youth, citing the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report on the implications of raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the United States, with one-third to one-half of young people who try a cigarette becoming daily smokers and dying prematurely from smoking-related diseases. The IOM report examined the likely public health outcomes of raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 19, 21, and 25 years, concluding that increasing the minimum age will likely prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults and reduce smoking-related mortality.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Institute of Medicine report projects that raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 19, 21, and 25 years will prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults and reduce smoking-related mortality.
  • One-third to one-half of young people who try a cigarette will go on to become daily smokers, and many will die prematurely from smoking-related diseases.
  • Raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products will reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke, improve infant health through reductions in smoking rates by parents, and support smoke-free environments where children learn, live, and play.
  • Nicotine is highly addictive, and dependence can begin almost as soon as youth begin using tobacco products.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for policies that keep nicotine products out of the hands of children and youth, highlighting the importance of protecting their health and well-being.

Statistics:

  • One-third to one-half of young people who try a cigarette will go on to become daily smokers.
  • Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, with premature death a common outcome for smokers.
  • Reducing smoking rates among parents due to increased minimum age to purchase tobacco products will have a positive impact on infant health.
  • The Institute of Medicine report is available at www.iom.edu/TobaccoMinimumAge.

Sources:

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  • Institute of Medicine (IOM)