In 2019, a new federal law made it illegal for people under the age of 21 to buy tobacco products. Starting on Jan. 1, 2021, the state of Tennessee also made it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy tobacco products. Previously, individuals only had to be 18 or older to buy cigarettes, chewing tobacco and anything else that contained tobacco.
The law aims to reduce tobacco use among minors
This new restriction is part of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco and Vapor Products Act, which also makes it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 21. Sellers can ask for ID if the buyer appears to be under the age of 30. This bill is intended to make it more difficult for minors to buy tobacco products from stores, gas stations and other places that sell tobacco.
Any minor who buys tobacco products runs the risk of being arrested and facing criminal charges. They may need to hire an attorney to help them with criminal charges. The punishments might be more severe if they already have previous convictions on their record.
How may an attorney help you with drug charges?
Tobacco might not be an illegal drug like heroin or meth, but it’s still illegal to buy cigarettes if you’re underage. It’s also illegal to sell cigarettes and chewing tobacco to anyone under the age of 21. Theoretically, you could be charged with a crime if you work at a gas station and sell cigarettes to a teenager. For this reason, it’s important to have an attorney on your side. Even if you’re facing a minor charge, you’ll need a smart legal strategy to prevent the charge from affecting your life in the future.
