Mitch McConnell wants to raise tobacco age to 21

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #454545}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #454545; min-height: 14.0px} Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he plans to introduce a bill that raises the nationwide minimum age for purchasing tobacco or vaping products from 18 to 21, saying nicotine use has reached “epidemic levels.”

Mr. McConnell, who announced his reelection bid one day earlier, said he is taking the aggressive stance for two reasons his home state leads the nation in smoking-related cancers, and rampant teen vaping could lead them to more dangerous products.

“For some time, I’ve been hearing from the parents who are seeing an unprecedented spike in vaping among their teenage children,” Mr. McConnell said. “In addition, we all know people who started smoking at a young age and who struggled to quit as adults. Unfortunately it’s reaching epidemic levels around the country.”

The senator said nearly a dozen states have raised the minimum age to 21, giving him a head start in crafting a federal bill. Like those bills, his federal legislation will exempt military members from the new rules.

Mr. McConnell’s decision to make this a top priority is notable because it calls for ambitious legislation, beyond the nuts and bolts of Senate nominations, and is being put forward even though Kentucky is a top tobacco-producing state.