Senators Propose Raising Minimum Tobacco Purchasing Age to 19 in Texas

A bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco in the state of Texas from 18 to 19 is currently in the Texas Senate.

Senators Carlos Uresti, D-19, Juan Hinojosa, D-20, and Joan Huffman, R-17, have introduced S.B. 648—a bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 19. The bill simply modifies existing age laws, meaning if passed anyone found selling tobacco to those under 19 could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $500.

The changes would also mean anyone under the age of 19 would not be allowed in a retail humidor in the state of Texas.

S.B. 648 is currently in the Health & Human Services committee.

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.