NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It's now federally illegal to sell tobacco products to people under the age of 21.
On December 20th, President Trump made it illegal for retailers to sell cigarettes, cigars, and electronic cigarettes to anyone under 21-years-old. While some states already have that law, the minimum age was previously 18 in Tennessee. Some customers were not happy about it.
"They’ll probably be pretty crushed," Richard Hill said, "I think when you’re 18, you’re old enough to go to war, you should be old enough to buy a tobacco product."
Richard Hill doesn't think it will save lives.
Hill said, "I mean if it’s unsafe for an 18-year-old, it’s probably the same for anyone that’s over 18 or 21, so I don’t necessarily agree with it."
While he opposes the change, others like Joey Stranger support it. As a smoker, he feels young people don't understand that using tobacco products and vaping can be deadly.
"I’m happy about it," Stranger said, "They don’t understand when it comes to the education part of it, what tobacco can do to them, see I know, I’ve done it."
Right now, there's some confusion at vape stores and tobacco shops as they handle the change. In addition, store workers said off-camera it's unclear how enforcement will work. Dana Wooding also wonders why this is happening now.
Wooding said, "Tobacco has been around a long long time and people have been dying for years?"
He doesn't believe local stores will take a hit, but it's too soon to tell.
Wooding said, "No, the tobacco industry will find a way to get around that."
When the change was being Juul said they supported it as it discourages youth from illegally sharing products with their peers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates tobacco products, and they posted a statement online.
