Missouri – The Missouri House of Representatives just recently put together a potential bill to raise the minimum age required to purchase tobacco. Current law in Missouri lets 18-year-olds purchase tobacco. House Bill 1484 would raise this minimum age to 21 years.
House Bill 1484 would not only raise the minimum age but would also lower the age required to hire someone to help with tobacco enforcement laws from 17 to 16. During the first house hearing on the bill, there was opposition to one section of the bill that would eliminate the St. Louis County rule of no new tobacco licenses within 1,000 ft. of a school. Opponents of this section argued that this ordinance has been shown to curb teens from using tobacco.
About 40 percent of Missouri counties have already raised their legal limits to purchase tobacco. According to a post from Missourinet, Rep. Brad Christ, R-St. Louis, the sponsor of the bill, has already gained support from tobacco companies to move the bill forward.
For more information on House Bill 1484, click here.
