On Wednesday evening, the Chautauqua County Legislature voted to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21-years-old. Lawmakers in the Town of Amherst, in Erie County, are exploring a similar proposal.
As a result, we decided to see how countries across the globe handle the tobacco debate.
England:
It is currently illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 in England. However, the minimum age to smoke in public is 16-years-old.
France:
People of any age can smoke in France. However, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18-years-old. Before 2009, the minimum age to buy tobacco in France was 16-years-old.
Brazil:
People of any age can also smoke in Brazil, however, like France, the purchase age is 18-years-old.
China:
It is currently illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18-years-old in China. However, there is no definitive smoking age in that country. There was no age limit on purchasing tobacco in that the country before 2006.
Canada:
The current legal age to purchase tobacco is 19-years-old in most Canadian provinces with the exception of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec. In these provinces, the legal purchase age is 18-years-old.
Do you think raising the tobacco age is a step in the right direction? Here are early results from our Twitter poll.
To cast your vote, head to our Twitter page@WKBW.
