A bipartisan group of 32 representatives in the North Carolina House is pushing to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and vape products from 18 to 21 years old. The proposed bill aims to bring North Carolina into compliance with a federal law passed in 2019 that established 21 as the national minimum age for tobacco sales.
Despite the federal mandate, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) has continued to enforce the current state law, which sets the purchase age at 18. The new House bill explicitly states its reasoning is to “protect the youth from the harmful effects of vaping and nicotine addiction.” It defines tobacco products broadly to include anything containing tobacco or nicotine, such as alternative nicotine products, vapor products, and e-liquids.
If passed, individuals under 21 caught using or buying these products could be court-ordered into a free tobacco education program. Selling to underage users would become a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The bill, filed in mid-March by Rep. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston County) and co-sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, has been referred to committee with no further action noted as of this writing. The CDC highlights that vapes are the most used tobacco product among youth, and nicotine can harm adolescent brain development.
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