Three out of four Americans favor raising smoking age to 21, study says

The tide of public opinion continues to turn against tobacco.

A study released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control found three out of four American adults — including seven in 10 current cigarette smokers — favor a ban on cigarette sales to people younger than age 21.

The report comes amid falling smoking rates and increased support for anti-smoking legislation.

In April, the CDC announced youth cigarette use tumbled from 15.7% in 2013 to 9.2% in 2014 — the largest year-over-year drop in a decade. And public health groups say that raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco could further reduce youth smoking rates.

According for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 80% of adult smokers first try smoking before they turn 18, but while less than half become regular smokers by the time they turn 18, four in five become regular smokers by the time they turn 21.

"18 to 21 is a critical time when people turn from experimenting with tobacco to regular use," says John Schachter, Director of State Communications for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, who believes that raising the minimum age of sale would directly counteract efforts by the tobacco companies to addict young people.

Raising the minimum age of sale for tobacco "could delay the age of first experimenting with tobacco, reducing the likelihood of transitioning to regular use and increasing the likelihood that those who do become regular users can quit," says Brian King, acting Deputy Director for Research Translation at the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

In March, a report by the Institute of Medicine found if all states were to raise the minimum age of sale for tobacco products to 21, it would result in almost 250,000 fewer preventable smoking deaths among people born between 2000 and 2019.

Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Phillip Morris USA, says his company believes it is important to let the FDA reach these conclusions on its own.

"Congress gives the FDA authority to study these issues, and the FDA can take a science-based approach to examining these issues and bring their findings back to Congress to undergo a thoughtful process of approval before going forward," Phelps says.

FDA does not have the authority to impose age restrictions on tobacco products, but it can suggest tobacco regulations to Congress.

Declines in youth cigarette use correspond to an explosion in vaping among high school students, up from 4.5% in 2013 to 13.4% in 2014. The spike in use has led to calls of greater oversight and regulation of vapor products, including taxation and age restrictions on par with cigarettes and tobacco products.

As of now, Hawaii is the only state that restricts the sale of tobacco and vapor products to people 21 and older. Colorado and Utah are considering legislation to raise the minimum tobacco age to 21. Several cities and municipalities, including New York City, have already banned sales of tobacco to people younger than age 21.