21 means 21

The Wisconsin Department of Health (DHS) has implemented a new Public Education Campaign, Tobacco 21, in response to the results of the Annual States Assessment of retail violations involving underage tobacco sales. The main goal of the campaign is to spread the importance of being 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products.

Back in 2019, then-President Trump signed an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which raised the federal minimum age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years, with no exceptions.

This legislation was to be implemented immediately- leaving those who are 18-20 using these products allowed one day and not allowed the next. According to the results of the Wisconsin violation assessment, there has been a tremendous increase in underage tobacco product sales. In 2019, underage tobacco sales were at 5.5% of total sales. In 2022, 11.9% of sales were purchased by underage tobacco users. Although this number seems remarkably high, it is down from the previous 14.1% of 2021 tobacco sales was underage users.

In a statement made by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge, “Young people can become addicted before they are old enough to understand the risks.” Expressing to the public that “Following the Tobacco 21 law can save lives.”