Whether you’re looking at it from a beauty perspective, a health perspective or just an overall coolness perspective, you can’t really argue that smoking is doing anyone any good.
And this week, both the state of California and the FDA took major steps to curb the sale of cigarettes.
California’s governor, Jerry Brown, signed a series of bills on Wednesday that increase the legal smoking age in the state from 18 to 21. The bill originally called for all sales of tobacco to those under 21 to be illegal, but was amended to exempt those who serve in the military. Many argued that if 18 year olds could go to war, then they should be allowed to purchase tobacco.
You May Also Like: Stop Smoking, It’s Ruining Your Skin
The law also bans the sale of electronic cigarettes to those under 21 and limits where e-cigarettes can be smoked in public. California is the second state to implement these new smoking laws after Hawaii. More than 100 cities in the U.S., including New York and Boston, have also increased the minimum age to buy tobacco products.
On Thursday, the FDA also finalized a rule that gives them more oversight on tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and pipe tobacco. The new regulations will allow the FDA to evaluate ingredients in tobacco products, make sure they meet certain standards and prevent misleading claims from tobacco manufacturers. In a statement, the FDA says, “Today’s action marks a new chapter in the FDA’s efforts to end preventable tobacco-related disease and death and is a milestone in consumer protection.”
Aside from obvious health problems, smoking has also been linked to skin, pre-mature aging, acne, teeth, and even hair loss issues. Keeping youth from starting the habit early might be one of the best things they can do to stay young.
