Date of Publication

Winter 1-25-2019

Abstract

Introduction

• Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S. Demographics

• Approximately 90% of current smokers starting smoking before age 182

• Earlier age of tobacco use initiation associated with lower rates of smoking cessation

• The proposed Tobacco 21 bill (T21) would raise the minimum legal age of sales to 21, creating the opportunity to reduce tobacco use initiation

• Within five years of implementing the nation’s first T21 bill in 2005, the 30-day smoking rate in Needham, MA dropped from 13% to 7%

• Recently in Vermont, the age of gun sales was raised to 21, the age of marijuana possession was set to 21, and the Burlington City Council resolved to recommend the age of tobacco products sales be raised to 21

Objectives

• Understand why T21 has been unable to pass in Vermont to date

• Understand the current view of T21 held by Vermont legislators

• Identify opportunities and barriers to implementing T21 in Vermont

Advisor(s)

David Kaminsky

UVM Larner College of Medicine

Rebecca Ryan

American Lung Association

Agency

American Lung Association of Vermont

Subjects

Adolescent Health, Health-Related Quality of Life & Well-Being, Tobacco Use

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

Opportunities and Barriers to Implementing Tobacco 21 in Vermont
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