LOUISVILLE- Should tobacco be regulated like alcohol?

New legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, would make it so. McConnell announced his plan to raise the age to buy tobacco products to 21 on Thursday. 

McConnell says this is important to help combat the growing number of youth who are becoming addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes. 

"The most serious threat involves the use of vaping devices for teens under 18," he said. "Far too often, 18 year olds who are still in high school can legally buy devices and share them with their younger classmates. And the problem isn't only high schoolers, in 2018 there was a nearly 50 percent increase in middle school students vaping throughout our country."

McConnell announced his legislation with Foundation for a Health Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler, State Senator Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, and State Representative Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill. 

"Raising the legal sales age for tobacco from 18 to 21 is effective because most kids get tobacco products from older friends rather than buying the products themselves. But 16- and 17-year-olds don't typically hang around with those who are 21 and older, so tobacco-21 laws make it harder for them to access tobacco," Ben Chandler said. 

Kentucky Youth Advocates is celebrating the legislation. 

"On the heels of the good work of the Kentucky General Assembly to protect kids’ health with passage of the statewide tobacco-free school campus bill, Kentucky Youth Advocates thanks Senator McConnell for leading the way in Congress on this critical issue to help keep Kentucky kids, and kids across the nation, healthier and prevent life-long addictions to nicotine," Dr. Terry Brooks, Executive Director of KYA, said in a statement.

The legislation would make an exemption for men and women serving in the military. 

13 other states have raised the age to purchase tobacco to 21.