| More than one billion people all over the | | | | Although majority of the countries have a |
| world enjoy cigarette smoking. It has been a | | | | minimum legally allowed purchasing age of 18 |
| deliberate attempt to reduce the smoking | | | | years, there are a few countries which do not |
| population by various governments and non | | | | have any legal minimum age for purchasing. A |
| governmental organization as it was reported | | | | few countries do allow smoking to the |
| that some of the constituents of cigarette | | | | children above 16 years of age. Some high |
| are harmful to human bodies. | | | | smoking countries such as Turkey and Japan |
| | | | also have 18 and 20 years minimum legal age |
| As the number of people have smoking habits | | | | for purchasing cheap cigarettes. In some |
| is always on rise, huge money was spent by | | | | provinces of Canada, there is a minimum legal |
| manufacturers in advertising their products. | | | | age requirement of 19 years and few others |
| Many cigarette smoking companies started | | | | including Quebec and Alberta have a legal age |
| advertisement on radio and television for | | | | of 18 years. The legal age as mentioned above |
| promoting their cigarette brands during early | | | | is for purchasing a cigarette, however in |
| 60s and 70s. First time in United States of | | | | Alberta province of Canada, possessing |
| America, Public Health Cigarette Smoking act | | | | cigarette or tobacco is also punishable by |
| came into existence On Jan 2, 1971. It was | | | | law. |
| passed by then president Richard Nixon on | | | | |
| April 1, 1970. The law provides a total ban | | | | Similarly in United Kingdom, cigarette can |
| on cigarette advertisement on television. | | | | legally be sold to a child above 16 years of |
| Later it was reported that the law had not | | | | age; however a child can buy or attempt to |
| been able to reduce the smokers. It was the | | | | buy cigarette even if he is below 16 years of |
| first attempt to reduce the number of | | | | age and according to the prevailing law of |
| cigarette smokers in the country. | | | | the land, it is not illegal. The law is |
| | | | likely to be modified in the coming years and |
| The government of various countries always | | | | government has a plan to rise the minimum |
| tried to reduce the number of cigarette | | | | legal age to 18. |
| smokers in their country. In all the fifty | | | | |
| states of United States of America, the sale | | | | These were the law of some countries for |
| of cigarette to children below 18 years of | | | | curbing the cigarette smoking in those |
| age was prohibited by law since 1998. Later | | | | countries; however these laws have minimal |
| in some of the states in US, the minimum | | | | effect on reducing the number of cigarette |
| purchase age for any cheap cigarettes or | | | | smokers. In many countries the vending |
| other tobacco products was raised to 19 years | | | | machines are placed at several common places |
| and in the coming years other states can make | | | | and therefore it is hard to monitor the sale |
| similar law, however in a couple of states, | | | | of the cigarette through these machines. So, |
| parents or any other guardian can provide | | | | although all countries have taken steps to |
| cigarette to the children below 18 years of | | | | reduce the child smokers, these are rarely |
| age. | | | | effective. |
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