Vermont Tobacco Purchasing Age Increase Proposal Stumbles in Senate

An effort to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco in the state of Vermont from 18 to 21 hit a roadblock on Friday when it failed to pass a roll call vote.

Interestingly, it had barely passed a similar roll call vote only a day before. Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex-Orleans, voted in favor of S.88 on Thursday, while he voted against it on Friday. Because of that, the bill did not reach the required 15 votes it would need to pass a formal vote. While the bill is not dead, it has been ordered to lie, meaning it can be voted again, but no further action is planned.

A report from the Burlington Free Press indicated some were concerned the state might lose an estimated $2 million of tax revenue over the next three years.

California and Hawaii are the only two states that have passed laws requiring individuals to be 21 to purchase tobacco though a variety of states have active bills that would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco.