Walgreens Raises Age To Buy Cigarettes

If you’re a smoker under the age of 21, you’ll no longer be able to buy your cigarettes at Walgreens. Beginning in September, the drugstore chain will require customers to be at least 21 to purchase tobacco in any of its more than 9,500 stores across the nation.

A top federal official chastised Walgreens several weeks ago for violating laws restricting access to cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in March that Walgreens was a top violator of tobacco sales laws among pharmacies that sell those products. Rival CVS stopped selling tobacco several years ago.

Laws restricting tobacco sales vary nationally.

Most states have set a minimum age of 18, while a dozen have raised that to 21, according to the American Lung Association. Alaska and Alabama set their minimum ages at 19. Many cities and counties also have passed local laws establishing the minimum at 21.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that he plans to introduce legislation to raise the minimum age to 21 nationally. He called the legislation a top priority.