NC Lawmakers Push to Raise Tobacco Sales Age to 21
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North Carolina legislators are working to raise the state’s legal tobacco sales age to 21, aligning with federal law that has been in place since 2019.
The federal law applies to all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, but North Carolina remains one of seven states that has yet to formally adopt the change.
Rep. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston) and Sen. Gale Adcock (D-Wake) are leading the effort with House Bill 430 and Senate Bill 318, both introduced under the name “Protect Youth from Harms of Vaping & Nicotine.”
In addition to raising the age limit, the proposed legislation would require stores that sell tobacco and vaping products to obtain a retail sales permit, adding more oversight to tobacco sales across the state.
