Mitch Zeller, the head of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products, has posted Protecting the Public and Especially Kids from the Dangers of Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes, Cigars and Hookah Tobacco. Here's an excerpt:
This month, for the first time, FDA will be able to help protect the public, and especially kids, from the dangers of all tobacco products. For years, it has been illegal under federal law to sell cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to minors. Under a rule finalized in May, federal law now prohibits retailers from selling e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco or cigars to people under age 18. Beginning [yesterday, August 8, 2016]:
It will become illegal nationwide to sell cigars, hookah tobacco, and e-cigarettes to anyone under age 18 and retailers will need to check photo ID of anyone under age 27.
Retailers will not be allowed to give away free samples of newly deemed tobacco products.
Retailers will not be allowed to sell cigars, hookah tobacco, and e-cigarettes in a vending machine where anyone under age 18 has access at any time.
