Do Local Tobacco-21 Laws Reduce Smoking Among 18 to 20 Year-Olds?

Abstract

Although states and municipalities are increasingly restricting tobacco sales to under 21-year-olds, such policies' effectiveness remains unclear, particularly when implemented locally. Using quasi-experimental methods, this article provides what may be the first evidence that sub-state tobacco-21 laws reduce smoking among 18- to 20-year-olds. Specifically, considering metropolitan and micropolitan areas from 2011 to 2016, the average 18- to 20-year-old who was exposed to these policies exhibited a 1.2 percentage point drop in their likelihood of being a current established smoker, relative to those who were unexposed. These findings validate local tobacco-21 laws as a means to reduce young adult smoking.