Congress is reportedly ready to ban tobacco sales to anyone under 21


An industry-transforming policy is reportedly arriving before the year ends.
A proposal to install a federal ban on tobacco sales to anyone under 21 has bipartisan support in the Senate, with even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying earlier this year he'd introduce legislation limiting the sales. But it now seems he won't need a separate bill, as the Senate plans to include the provision in this year's federal spending bill, sources in both parties tell Politico.
Tobacco products for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes will be subject to the heightened age threshold, four people familiar with the matter tell Politico. The provision was supposed to be included with earlier health-related measures, but got held up in partisan fights. The measure has support from senators on both sides of the aisle, including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Congressional leaders have already tentatively agreed to a plan to fund the government through fiscal year 2020, Politico reported in November. A stopgap spending bill extended the current government funding provisions until Dec. 20 of this year. Other policy changes and local funding packages will likely be snuck into the spending bill as conditions for some lawmakers' support, though the tobacco age raise may be the most significant nationwide. Federal law currently sets the tobacco sales age limit at 18, though some states and local municipalities have made it higher.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The state of Britain's Armed Forces
The Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
By The Week UK
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fish
Under the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Crossword: April 21, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US