Raising the smoking age is a drastic response to a nonexistent problem

In the latest development in the nanny state’s war against tobacco, Congress just quietly passed a bill that will raise the smoking age to 21.

This dramatic action caps off a tumultuous year for tobacco policy, with two states and over 280 municipalities now banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Yet, while there has been a notable uptick in vaping among teenagers and young adults in recent years, their use of traditional tobacco products is at a historic low, making the new bill headed to President Trump’s desk that much more perplexing. Raising the smoking age is unnecessary, and it won’t have any major effect on reducing traditional cigarette smoking. It’s just yet another nanny-state scheme to restrict human autonomy.