AAP Statement on Tobacco-Free Youth Act

By: Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics

“Tobacco is a major threat to children’s health and tobacco addiction starts during adolescence. Raising the purchase age from 18 to 21 has long been a priority of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and we applaud this policy’s inclusion in the Tobacco-Free Youth Act, a bill introduced today by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“The science has been clear for decades: tobacco is dangerous, deadly and addictive. Raising the age of sale to 21 is one of several important policy changes needed to address the tobacco epidemic, which has rapidly spread to include the use of e-cigarettes among young people.

“As bills to raise the tobacco purchase age make their way through Congress, we will work to ensure they remain free of tobacco industry influence and as protective as possible of the health of children and teens.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.