Tobacco Buying Age Raised To 21

Dec. 27--Teenage smoking is officially prohibited by federal law.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday the legal tobacco purchasing age has officially been raised on a federal level from 18 to 21.

"It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product -- including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes -- to anyone under 21," a notice on the FDA's website states.

The age hike was included in a spending package President Trump signed Dec. 20, though it wasn't immediately clear how long it would take for the law to take effect. The FDA could have waited six months to implement it.

The legal age for tobacco products has been 21 in New York since November. Eighteen other states and Washington, D.C., had the same rule on the books before Friday's announcement as well.

The provision tucked into the spending bill signed by Trump had bipartisan support and was introduced in May by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

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