Final answer:
The legal age to purchase tobacco products and cigarette wrapping papers in the United States is 21. Underage individuals could be fined for possession, and retailers could face charges for selling to minors. These laws are reinforced by health warnings, advertising regulations, and 'sin taxes' aimed at reducing tobacco consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal age to purchase tobacco products and cigarette wrapping papers in the United States is 21 years old. This age requirement was established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and further reinforced by the federal law known as "Tobacco 21" which came into effect on December 20, 2019. If an individual under this age attempts to purchase these products, they could potentially receive a citation or fine for underage possession and the retailer can be charged with selling to a minor.
Violation of these laws could lead to different charges based on state regulations, but often include possession of tobacco by a minor or furnishing tobacco to minors. This is part of larger efforts to protect public health by deterring smoking and vaping among young people, using measures such as health warnings on packaging, advertising restrictions, and sin taxes on tobacco products. Sin taxes aim to reduce consumption of harmful substances while also raising revenue for the states. Tobacco is considered an inelastic product, meaning that changes in price tend to have a smaller effect on demand compared to other goods.