Del. House schedules vote on raising age to buy tobacco products

DOVER, Del. (AP) - House lawmakers have scheduled a vote on a bill raising the legal age to buy tobacco products in Delaware from 18 to 21.

The measure cleared the Senate 14-to-6 last month, and a House vote is scheduled for Thursday.

The new age restriction would apply to all tobacco products and tobacco substitutes, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

Retailers caught selling tobacco or a tobacco substitute to a person under 18 would be slapped with criminal fines ranging from $250 to $1,000. Those caught selling to people over 18 but under 21 would be subject to civil penalties of similar amounts.

Lawmakers also want to eliminate an existing provision allowing a parent or guardian to buy tobacco for an underage person.