Mitch McConnell announces his intention to raise the age of buying tobacco at age 21

Mitch McConnell, majority leader in the US Senate, has announced a bill to raise the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years across the country.

At a press conference held Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, the Republican said the legislation would cover products including vaping devices.

Eleven states have already enacted similar age-related legislation to purchase tobacco at 21 years of age.

Mr. McConnell's bill will reflect the state laws already in place.

This "will protect the health of the country's teenagers," he said.

"For some time, I've heard about parents attending an unprecedented spike in their teenage children's vaping," said McConnell, adding that smoking is "epidemic" among youth.

He said that his bill, which will be introduced in May, will be similar to the current legislation used to apply the minimum age of 18 years. The bill provides exemptions for those serving in the military.

Louisville, place of McConnell's announcement, has one of the highest cancer rates in the United States, with 34% of the cancers in the state directly related to smoking.

According to McConnell, 45 percent of high school students in Kentucky said they tried the vaping technique, reflecting a nationwide increase in the popularity of e-cigarettes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that nearly one in five high school students – or 20.8% – reported using electronic cigarettes in 2018, an increase from 1.5 % in 2011.

Opinions are somewhat divided on the use of electronic cigarettes, which would be less dependent than cigarettes. According to the CDC, the traditional use of cigarettes has decreased from 2011 to 2018.

The announcement came just a day after McConnell announced his bid for reelection in 2020.

The launch video of his campaign highlights the adoption of an agricultural bill that included a provision that legalized hemp and aimed to stimulate the economy of Kentucky and Canada. other states producing lower tobacco sales.