CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Tobacco 21 goes into effect Thursday in Ohio.
It's a new law that prohibits the sale of any tobacco products to anyone in the state. Tobacco 21 is designed to keep young people from starting to smoke. It raises the age of purchase from 18 to 21 in Ohio.
This includes all tobacco products, cigarettes, vaping, cigars and even chewing tobacco. The goal, according to public health experts, is to try and keep young people from starting to smoke or use other tobacco products. There is evidence that as many as 95 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before they turned 21.
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton says the goal of the initiative is also to let young people and parents know there are resources available to help them quit.
