TEMPLE, Texas — A bill raising the age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 was approved Tuesday in the Texas Senate.
"We see most people actually start their tobacco use or their nicotine use before 21," Dr. Gregory Newman with Baylor Scott and White said.
KCEN Channel 6 spoke with Newman about the effects tobacco can have on younger users. Newman said using tobacco and nicotine products at a young age can get users hooked early.
"What can happen in a younger brain is that you actually get some rewiring of the brain when they get an addictive substance," Newman said.
The bill impacts cigarettes, e-cigarettes and all tobacco products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies vapes as a tobacco product.
The Vapor Domain in Temple sells these devices. They said its devices do not use tobacco, but they would still be impacted by the change because of the FDA's definition.
"It would make a huge impact. I believe on not just us, but the entire vaping industry," manager Clint Logan said.
Logan said the Vapor Domain's customers range from age 18 to 80, but the shop see the 18 to 20 demographic daily.