More Local Governments Boost Smoking Age

Starting today, if you want to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes or other tobacco products in San Antonio, you’ve got to be 21 or older.

The city is one of a growing number of local governments that have passed ordinances or regulations that raise the smoking age to 21.

While Massachusetts this summer became the sixth state to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, many local officials aren’t waiting for state legislatures to make the move.

At least 350 towns, cities and counties in 21 states have taken action, compared with about 200 in 14 states in 2016, according to Tobacco 21, a Dublin, Ohio-based advocacy group that supports raising the minimum age to 21.

In September alone, at least four cities or counties — Phillips County, Arkansas; Douglas County, Kansas; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and Essex County, New York — voted to hike the smoking age.

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