Donald Trump wants to raise minimum age for vaping to 21

British American Tobacco on September 12, 2019 said it planned to cut 2,300 jobs globally by January as its new boss seeks to drive revenues in e-cigarettes. PHOTO | AFP

Washington

US President Donald Trump has said he wanted to raise the minimum age for the purchase of e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 as part of a plan to curtail youth vaping.

But he also indicated that he was concerned about the impact of regulation on business, in a sign that the administration is considering stepping back from a previously announced complete ban on flavoured e-juices that are popular among adolescents.

"We're going to be coming out with a very important position on vaping. We have to take care of our kids most importantly, so we're going to have an age limit of 21 or so" he told reporters, adding that a policy would be announced "next week."

The administration announced in September it would soon ban flavoured products, but it appeared lobbying efforts by the vaping industry may have changed that position.

"We have a lot of people to look at, including jobs frankly," said Trump. "It has become a big industry. We're gonna take care of it."

The vaping industry is facing unprecedented scrutiny amid a mysterious epidemic of lung conditions linked to e-cigarette use that has killed 39 people and sickened more than 2,000 in the US in recent months.

Investigators say no single substance is behind the outbreak, but preliminary work has linked a cutting agent used in cannabis flavourings, usually sold on the black market, to lung injury.

The federal minimum age for purchasing tobacco products is 18, but states can also set their own law and several have already passed bills restricting their sale to people aged 21 and over.