WASHINGTON (AP) — A D.C. Council member wants to raise the "smoking age" in the nation's capital.
Democratic Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie introduced a bill Wednesday that would increase the minimum age to buy or possess tobacco products from 18 to 21. New York City passed similar legislation last year. McDuffie says the bill is based on research that shows introducing people to tobacco later in life can save lives.
McDuffie also introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban the sale of powdered alcohol. Several states have banned the sale of the product, and last week, alcohol wholesalers and distributors in Maryland agreed to a voluntary ban of the product. McDuffie says alcohol in powdered form could be abused by teenagers, leading to alcohol poisoning.
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