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Scientific Evidence Brief: Minimum Legal Sales Age

About this resource:

Non-Systematic Review

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Last Reviewed: February 2021

Workgroups: Tobacco Use Workgroup

This CDC brief summarizes the scientific evidence on raising the minimum legal sales age (MLSA) for tobacco products. Almost all adult daily smokers start before age 26 — pointing to tobacco prevention for youth and young adults as key to ending the tobacco epidemic. Scientific evidence points to raising the MLSA for tobacco products as important to a comprehensive approach to tobacco prevention control. It can also help protect young people from the harmful, addictive effects of nicotine — especially during a vulnerable period of brain development.

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Suggested Citation

1.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Summary of Scientific Evidence: Raising the Minimum Legal Sales Age for Tobacco Products. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/evidence/pdfs/minimum-legal-sales-508.pdf