California Increasing Smoking Age to 21: What This Means for Tobacco Use

California Increasing Smoking Age to 21: What This Means for Tobacco Use

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill increasing the minimum age for tobacco buying from 18 to 21. The new law also puts further restrictions on where electronic cigarettes may be used in public places, and expands smoke-free areas around schools. Tobacco use is linked to many health problems in adults and children, sometimes in people who have never themselves smoked. The health crises associated with habitual smoking are high, for individuals and statewide tax burdens.

But some still think that California’s new law has gone too far. Surely, a common criticism goes, someone who can lose their life in war should be able to decide whether or not they can handle the right to buy cigarettes. Other young people are complaining that they aren’t allowed to buy lighters at gas stations anymore, another provision of the rule. The law’s rollout is still being implemented, so what changes in smoking habits can we expect to see following California’s new law?

Nations with higher age requirements for tobacco purchase often have lower incidences of cigarette smoking as a whole. There are a few exceptions worldwide. In most cases, however, raising the legal age for tobacco purchase is a concurrent decision with wider awareness of the harms of routine cigarette smoking. Americans are smoking less anyway. In 1955, nearly 60% of American males smoked. Today, the number is closer to 15%. The sources of these changing behaviors are multi-faceted. On the one hand, people are more educated about the harms associated with cigarette smoking. On the other hand, cigarettes have been made more expensive through taxes and penalties, in order to de-incentivize people from buying them. Raising the age of legal sale is likely to further curtail smoking among young people, already at the lowest rates within the past several decades. 

We can further expect for people’s relationship with tobacco to change. Tobacco is an interesting psychoactive commodity. Useful in many products, not just cigarettes, it is possible to enjoy the tobacco experience without becoming dependent upon nicotine or endangering the health of oneself or others. Enjoying the occasional Oliva cigar has none of the same negative impact on health as smoking two packs of Marlboro Reds every day. And though similarly restricted by the new California ruling, e-cigarettes are far less harmful than old-fashioned cigarettes.

In the end, tobacco isn’t going away. The ruling in California is just another step to helping Americans develop a healthier relationship with tobacco. Social and recreational tobacco use has been enjoyed by civilizations for thousands of years. It was the ubiquitous cigarette’s role as a work drug in the 50’s and 60’s that caused the health scourge and industry cover-up that changed the face of American tobacco forever. Relegated to its appropriate role, a product for enjoyment not dependency, tobacco can regain its place in the life of the healthy adult. An occasional cigar after dinner, a pick-me-up before work with coffee, tobacco will always be used in California, though not in the harmful ways that hurt previous generations.