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