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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mecklenburg County wants to raise the age of smoking.
County Chiefs are asking lawmakers to explore the minimum age to purchase tobacco products at age 21.
[Researchers: Use of cigarettes, alcohol down, while e-cigs, pot increase among Charlotte children]
According to county estimates, 6,800 children would become smokers each year in Mecklenburg County.
Meanwhile, cigarette consumption among adults has reached a historically low level.
In the 1960s, the smoking rate was over 40%.
They are now reduced to 14% and it is only cigarettes.
The CDC said that about 19% of Americans used tobacco in one form or another.
After years of repression of traditional cigarettes, federal health officials are now focusing on the epidemic levels of e-cigarette use by teens.
[9 Investigates: Vaping, E-cigarette dangers]
[FDA to launch plan to prevent children from using e-cigarettes]
The FDA is about to announce new restrictions as early as next week.
They should include the ban on most flavored electronic cigarettes in convenience stores and gas stations.
© 2018 Cox Media Group.
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