A bill in the Indiana House of Representatives would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

H.B. 1578 makes three modifications to existing tobacco laws in the state. First, it raises the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. Second, it would increase the cigarette tax from $1.50 per pack to $2.495 per pack. Finally, it would dirhttps://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1578#document-150a8483ect $35 million from the state’s Master’s Settlement Agreement (MSA) fund to anti-tobacco advertising and prevention methods.

It would not increase the tax on other tobacco products, including cigars.

However, a separate bill, H.B. 1313, would ban smoking in cigar shops. H.B. 1313 was introduced by Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, who is also one of the three co-sponsors for H.B. 1578. He is joined by Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove, and Rep. Cindy Ziemke, R-Batesville.

If passed, Indiana would join California and Hawaii as the only states where you must be 21 to purchase tobacco, though a host of other states are considering similar measures.

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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.