Walmart Beats Denver In Making 21 Minimum Age To Buy Tobacco Products

As Denver city officials consider making 21 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, Walmart makes decision effective in July.

Walmart and Sam's Club announced that it will join Walgreens and other retail stores in raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes to 21. The mega-retailer says the new rule will take effect in July and that includes Colorado stores. The minimum age to purchase tobacco products has been 18 for decades. Several cities and states have already enacted laws raising the minimum age to 21.

As I shared back on April 1st, Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment proposed a new law that would require persons to be 21 to buy cigarettes, vaping products, and smokeless tobacco within the Denver city limits.

Denver's mayor, Michael B. Hancock, says:

Raising the age of purchase to 21 years old for these products is a step we can take as a city to curb this rising trend and promote public and personal health, and more positive choices, among our young residents.

In the US, 450 cities have made 21 the minimum. Several states, including California, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and others, have raised the age of tobacco sales to 21.

Credit: KKCO11News