US Bipartisan Bill to Increase Tobacco Sales to 21 and Restrict Online Sales

In the United States House of Representatives has introduced a new bipartisan bill that would set the national age to purchase tobacco and vapes products to 21 years of age. The bill would also address how tobacco products are purchased over the internet.

The bill was introduced by Alabama Republican Representative Robert Aderholt and is called the Stopping Consumption of Tobacco by Teens Act or SCOTT Act for short. The bill is a tribute to outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb who amplified the teenage vaping crisis to epidemic levels.

Representative Aderholt said, “this is bipartisan legislation that builds upon the work that FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, has done towards stemming the tide of youth adoption of vaping products over the past few years...The fight to curb this epidemic will not end with his departure, as proven by this first step in taking tobacco out of the ready reach of underage children.”

The SCOTT Act is also known as HR 2084 and is co-sponsored by California Democrat Juan Vargas proving that anti-vaping initiatives are popular on both sides of the aisle. A bipartisan Senate bill to ban flavored vaping products, excluding tobacco, was introduced last month.

In addition to banning sales of all tobacco and vaping products to people under 21, the SCOTT Act requires online sellers of vaping products to verify a buyer’s personal information through a third-party database (which most online vape retailers, including ourselves here at Cali Steam already do). However, it would also requires a signature on delivery by an adult 21 or older. This would increase shipping cost by at least $2 per package that we oppose here at Cali Steam. Many of our customers already complain about shipping costs and we try to cover shipping costs on larger orders but the added cost would fall back on our customers.

Supporters of HR 2084 believe the laws will prevent 18-year-old high school students from buying and distributing tobacco and vaping products to underage classmates, although similar legislation to make alcohol sales illegal to under-21’s has not eliminated youth drinking. We do not believe this bill will help improve the underage vaping problems as many states already ban sales to minors under the age of 21.

We encourage our customers to reach out to their local representatives to encourage them to vote no the SCOTT Act. For doing that you can use the coupon code “VOTENO” to get 20% off your entire online order at calisteam.com.