Survey: Most want cigarette age to be 21

You have to be 21 to buy alcohol in the U.S., and most Americans agree that the same age requirement should apply for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products.

A study conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 50 percent of U.S. adults “strongly favor” raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21. An additional 25 percent of those surveyed said they “somewhat favor” this change.

Only 11 percent of the 4,219 people who completed the survey said they would “strongly oppose” raising the minimum age to 21, and 14 percent said they would “somewhat oppose” such a move.

Just last month, Hawaii became the first state in the union to set its legal smoking age at 21. (The new law, which also applies to electronic cigarettes, goes into effect on Jan. 1.) Four other states — Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah — have bumped up their minimum age to 19.

In California, the state Senate has approved a bill to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. That bill is being considered by the Assembly.

In addition, at least 80 U.S. cities require tobacco buyers to be at least 21, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Researchers from the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health wanted to gauge public opinion on the issue because raising the minimum smoking age is seen as a promising way to reduce youth smoking. Although no studies have yet assessed the effect of this policy change, the study authors noted that other moves to restrict tobacco sales to minors have had a beneficial effect.