US Virgin Islands to raise legal tobacco sales age to 21

Health officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands have voiced support for a proposal to raise the legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The measure, presented to the Senate Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee, is intended to protect young people, whose brains are more susceptible to nicotine addiction.[1]By raising the minimum age for the sale of these products, the territory would align itself with federal legislation adopted in 2019, as part of the "Tobacco 21" law, already in force in the United States.[2]This harmonization would not only strengthen regulatory coherence, but would also contribute to reducing the prevalence of smoking by preventing their initiation and the rapid establishment of consumption.

According to Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, businesses that fail to comply with these regulations could face sanctions or even closure. Encarnacion stressed the importance of this initiative to reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases and public health costs in the territory, while working to create a tobacco-free generation. Senator Ray Fonsecca, author of the bill, pointed out that the vast majority of adult smokers started before the age of 21, and that those who start after that age are less addicted and likely to use daily.

Reducing tobacco use among youth and the risks of peer sharing

According to health authorities, raising the legal age could also limit initiation through peer influence, which often results in adolescents sharing tobacco, given that young people under 21 have little contact with older people. In addition, health authorities are concerned about the use of "fonta" - leaf tobacco often associated with cannabis, a common practice among young people. The latter, often seen as a means of escape, can harm the cognitive development of adolescents, as their brains are not fully formed until the age of 25. The impact of nicotine on the brain maturation process has also been highlighted by researchers and reinforces this risk.

A Growing Diabetes Crisis

At the same hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services, the issue of diabetes, considered a growing threat to public health, was also discussed. In 2023, approximately 16.6 billion Virgin Islands residents of all ages had diabetes, compared to an average of 12 billion in the continental United States. Julia Sheen, director of the Virgin Islands Diabetes Center of Excellence, noted that the majority of patients treated by the center are overweight, with half of them obese. Health officials recommend eating a more balanced diet, replacing sugary and fried foods with non-starchy vegetables and lean proteins.

Senator Kenneth Gittens warned against excessive consumption of sugary drinks, citing popular beverages such as Vitamalt and Coca-Cola, which exceed the recommended daily sugar intake. He said, "It's time to change our eating habits if we're not going to kill ourselves slowly." The hearing concluded that prevention and early detection measures must be put in place to combat this "silent epidemic" that is affecting more and more people in the Virgin Islands. Smoking has also been shown to be a significant factor in diabetes. According to the American Lung Association, smoking is associated with a 30 to 40% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to non-smokers.[3]. Therefore, smoking prevention and smoking cessation support must be integrated into strategies to combat this “silent epidemic” of diabetes.

©Generation Without Tobacco

RK

[1] https://stthomassource.com/content/2024/10/02/raise-tobacco-buying-age-to-21-experts-urge-senate/

[2] https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-issues-final-rule-increasing-minimum-age-certain-restrictions-tobacco-sales

[3] https://www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/tobacco/cessation/technical-assistance/hospital-community-benefits/make-the-case American Lung Association. State of Tobacco Control 2017. 10 of the Worst Diseases Smoking Causes.