Lawmakers Unveil Bill Raising Age to Buy Cigarettes to 21

BOSTON (AP) — A move to raise the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes and other tobacco products across Massachusetts is gathering steam on Beacon Hill.

The Legislature’s Public Health Committee on Thursday unveiled a bill that would raise to 21 the minimum age for buying tobacco products including cigarettes.

The panel’s co-chair, Democratic Sen. Jason Lewis, of Winchester, has said it’s significant that Boston recently joined dozens of local communities that bumped the minimum age up from 18 to 21 in an effort to curb youth smoking.

He says studies have shown that increasing the minimum age helps reduce tobacco use among teenagers.

He says the legislation could also address possible new regulations on e-cigarettes.