A U.S. senator from Indiana has proposed a ban on intergenerational cigarettes, banning people born after June 30, 2004, from buying tobacco products, vapes, or e-liquids. If approved, the ban would take effect on July 1.
According to Halfwheel, on January 14, U.S. Senator Ed Charbonneau of Indiana introduced a bill that would implement a ban on intergenerational tobacco. If the bill passes, people born after June 30, 2004, would not be able to buy tobacco products, vapes, or e-liquids in the state.
SB 322 would also prohibit people born after June 30, 2004, from buying tobacco products and shipping them in-state. Merchants would be required to use shipping services that verify the recipient’s age. If approved, the ban would take effect on July 1. The bill has been referred to the state Senate Health Service Providers Committee for the first round of debate.
In recent years, various places have proposed to ban intergenerational tobacco. Hawaii considered such a bill in 2023 but did not implement it. Some Massachusetts lawmakers plan to introduce a similar bill in 2025 to enforce the same ban as Brookline’s in the state. The state Supreme Court upheld the district’s ban.
However, there has been opposition and downsizing in some places. As the first country in the world to implement such a ban, New Zealand repealed it in early 2024. In addition, the city of Peabody, Massachusetts, suspended its ban in October due to objections. Over the past year, several other towns in Massachusetts have also announced plans to discuss bans.
The Cigar Rights Organization of the United States (CRA) opposed the proposal, saying the ban would lead to a black market and economic instability. The group has launched an online form for lawmakers to contact and voice opposition to the bill.
