Proposal To Raise Tobacco Buying Age To 21 Sparks Debate

Most long-term smokers start as teenagers, and anti-smoking advocates are trying to stop them before they start. Taking their cue from a national campaign, a coalition of business and health leaders in Kansas launched a campaign last year to raise the tobacco buying age. So far, more than half a dozen cities have adopted the higher age. But last week, leaders of Gardner, Kansas said no. From Here & Now contributor KCUR, health reporter Alex Smith reports.

• Read Alex Smith’s full story via KCUR

Reporter

• Alex Smith, health reporter at KCUR in Kansas City, Missouri. He tweets @AlexSmithKCUR.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.