Walmart raising tobacco purchase age to 21 effective July 1

Walmart to Raise Tobacco Purchasing Age Effective July 1. Walmart is the most recent retailer to announce efforts to reduce tobacco use. Beginning July 1, 2019, they will raise the minimum age for tobacco purchase to 21 and end the sale of fruit- and dessert-flavored nicotine products.

McConnell and Kaine ask to raise the federal tobacco purchase age to 21. Senators McConnell and Kaine proposed legislation to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 in hopes of curbing the teen vaping epidemic. Since 90% of smokers get hooked before age 18, this bill could stop many teenagers before they even start.

Tobacco’s latest danger – What to know about IQOS. Philip Morris has unveiled a new cigarette alternative, the IQOS, that heats tobacco without burning it. The FDA has not yet decided if they will allow the device to be advertised as safer than cigarettes since the verdict is still out on its risks.

Popular E-cigarette Company, JUUL, Under Investigation. Six public health organizations urged the FDA to crack down on JUUL’s unauthorized claims that their products can help smokers quit. These groups contend that “switching” is not equivalent to quitting and that JUUL’s marketing tactics violate federal law.