20 Jun 2016

Guam raises minimum tobacco age

6:15 am on 20 June 2016

Lawmakers in Guam have passed legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, to 21.

Cook Islands quit smoking sign

Guam has raised the purchasing age for cigarettes to 21. Photo: RNZI / Mary Baines

The law will go into effect at the start of 2017.

The Pacific Daily News reports the territory's legislature passed Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz's bill to raise the age from 18 by nine votes to six.

Guam's adult daily smoker rate in 2014 was 29.2 percent - the highest rate in the United States.