Legal smoking age

The minimum legal age to purchase or smoke cigarettes or tobacco products varies from country to country. Ages range from 15 to 21.

Country	Region	Smoking age	Purchase age	Note
Algeria	Africa	None	16	In Algeria, one must be at least 16 years of age to purchase cigarettes. Vending machines in the country are prohibited from selling tobacco products in order to prevent the dangers of smoking.
Mauritius	Africa	18	18	A person must be 18 years old to purchase or to smoke cigarettes including any tobacco products as is indicated in Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 1999, Sec. 2(e)(i).
South Africa	Africa	16	18	Cigarettes and any other tobacco products may not be sold to persons under the age 18. It is also it illegal to smoke in public areas unless in a specific demarcated smoking zone. It is also prohibited to smoke in private vehicles with minors under the age of 12.
Tunisia	Africa	None	None	Vending machines are banned. [Law No. 98-17 of 23 February 1998 on the prevention of the damage caused by tobacco consumption]
Zimbabwe	Africa	None	18
Armenia	Asia	None	19
Bangladesh	Asia	15	15
Bhutan	Asia	Banned	Banned	In 2005, Bhutan became the only country to place an outright ban on smoking and other uses of tobacco products.
Georgia	Asia	16	18
Hong Kong	Asia	None	18	Vending machine selling tobacco are prohibited. The law is also strictly enforced in Macau.
India	Asia	18	18	In some states sale of products containing tobacco is banned in and near the premises of schools. The sale must not take place anywhere within a radius of 100 yards near such educational institutions.
Indonesia	Asia	18	18	Advertising of tobacco allowed on television between 21:30 and 05:00. There was no minimum age in Indonesia, for both smoking and purchasing cigarettes, as of January 2012. The minimum age is 18.
Iran	Asia	18	18
Israel	Asia	16	18	The sale of tobacco to people under 18 is illegal. Printed advertisements are prohibited from including names, appellations or photos of celebrities and persons under 40. The legal smoking age is 16. Persons in uniform and persons in sport dress or bathing suits per Tobacco Products for Smoking (Restriction on Advertising) Law, 5743-1983.
Japan	Asia	20	20
Jordan	Asia	18	18
Kazakhstan	Asia	None	18	Sale of tobacco to those under 18 is illegal. Advertising to minors and vending machines are also prohibited.
Kuwait	Asia	21	21
Kyrgyzstan	Asia	None	18	Sale of tobacco to those under 18 is illegal.
Macao	Asia	18	18
Malaysia	Asia	18	18	It is an offense to sold cigarettes to underage persons. There are no legal age on both smoking and sale of tobacco until 1993.
Maldives	Asia	18	18	The legal smoking age is 18 per Measures Taken to Reduce the Use of Tobacco,Sec.5.
Mongolia	Asia	18	18
Nepal	Asia	None	18
Pakistan	Asia	18	18	The minimum age to purchase tobacco is 18, which is self-imposed by distributors and retailers. Eighteen is also the smoking age. The sale of tobacco products through vending machines is banned. [RPPL 4–25 Sec.4(3);Regulations Governing Sale of Tobacco Products Sec.4]
Philippines	Asia	18	18	Only people over 18 may buy cigarettes and tobacco due to the "STOP for Health Act". (Stop Tobacco and Other Products for Health)
Saudi Arabia	Asia	None	None	https://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130603213758AA9PV1J
South Korea	Asia	None	19	Cigarettes can not be sold to persons under 19 [Law No. 4914, Sec. 9]. Vending Machines: Restricted [Law No. 4914, Sec. 9]
Syria	Asia	18	18	The minimum age is 18. [Presidential Decree No. 13 of September 1996]
Singapore	Asia	18	18	Sale of cigarettes to under 18 is punishable by law, however Health Sciences Authority urges Singaporeans to quit smoking. Smoking under the age of 18 is an offense, however those who are in school uniform or below 11 years old will lose their licenses immediately. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) encourages all Singaporeans to quit smoking as it is bad for lungs.
Sri Lanka	Asia	21	21
Taiwan	Asia	18	18	Selling cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 is an offense.
Thailand	Asia	None	18	One must be over 18 to buy. [Tobacco Products Control Act, BE 2535, Sec.4] Vending Machines:Ban[Tobacco Products Control Act, BE 2535, Sec.5]
Turkey	Asia	18	18	The minimum age is 18. [The Law on the Prevention of Harm Induced by Tobacco Products, Law No. 4207, Article 3]
United Arab Emirates	Asia	18	18	http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2010/may/theuae_may735.xml
Albania	Europe	None	18
Austria	Europe	None	16
Belarus	Europe	None	18	(Advertising of tobacco is prohibited on television and radio from 07:00 to 22:00, on the first and last pages of newspapers or magazines or at or near sports centres or public health facilities. Tobacco advertising may not describe the properties of the product, nor show the cigarette. The product package may be showed only on point of sale advertising. This may not link product consumption to success or mental or physical wellbeing.)
Belgium	Europe	None	16	(The law is strictly enforced, in both Flanders and Wallonia)
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Europe	None	18
Bulgaria	Europe	None	18
Croatia	Europe	None	18	The legal smoking age is 18. Signage is required per the Law on the Restricted Use of Tobacco Products, Article 7. Cigarette machines selling tobacco are prohibited per The Law on the Restricted Use of Tobacco Products, Article 8.
Cyprus	Europe	None	18
Czech Republic	Europe	None	18	Health warnings fall under the same legislation of the European Union. The warning message is introduced by "Ministerstvo zdravotnictví varuje" (The ministry of health warns))
Denmark	Europe	None	18	Smoking is banned in all Ministry of Health workplaces and in meetings of public councils, boards, and commissions unless all participants agree to permit smoking per Circular of 23 March 1988 of the Ministry of Health on the provision of nonsmoking environments on public premises, means of transport, etc. The agreement applies to all tobacco products, including cigarette paper and tubes, bans the use of models, actresses or actors appearing to be under 30 years, celebrities, health personnel, and sports personalities in ads; press advertising is restricted to a single page (Code of practice between the tobacco industry and the government, latest update in 1992). (16 prior to 1 September 2008)
Estonia	Europe	18	18	(The legal smoking age is 18 per Tobacco Act,Chapter 2,Sec.17(1)(1). Sale of tobacco is prohibited in health care institutions, education institutions, and sports establishments per Tobacco Act, Chapter 2,Sec.17(1)(5).The minimum age to purchase tobacco is set at 18 per Decree on the Measure to Reduce Tobacco Smoking, Sec.12; Act on the Measures to Reduce Tobacco Smoking,Sec.11. Tobacco Vending Machines, sale of individual cigarettes and the distribution of Tobacco for free is illegal.)
Finland	Europe	18	18	Prior to 1995, the legal age on purchasing and use of the cigarettes was 16. Beginning March 1995, selling cigarettes to persons under 18 is an offence and beginning October 2010, smoking of cigarettes by minors is an offence.
France	Europe	None	18	(16 prior to March 2009. Persons under 18 cannot smoke in schools per the Evin Law (passed in November 1992, effective 1 January 1993). Smoking is prohibited in schools receiving people under 16 per Law No. 76-616 of 9 July 1976 concerning measures to combat smoking. Vending machines outside tobacco shops are forbidden per Directive 2 K-1-89 of 19 December 1988. The directive was approved 19 December 1988 and effective 21 November 1989. In 2009, France made it illegal for persons under the age of 18 to buy cigarettes. Previously, selling cigarettes to persons under the age of 16 was illegal.)
Germany	Europe	18	18	(as of 1 September 2007, previous age limit was 16. The Protection of Young Persons in Public Act states that children and young people under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to smoke in public per the law on the protection of juveniles in public (as of 1 September 2007, previous age limit was 16). Television and radio advertising is banned. Advertisements that create the impression that the consumption or the proper use of tobacco products is harmless to health or is likely to have a favorable effect on the functioning of the body and physical performance, are likely to induce juveniles or adolescents to smoke, make it appear that inhaling of tobacco smoke is something to be imitated, or suggest that tobacco products are natural or pure are banned per the law of 15 August 1974 for the overall reform of foodstuffs law. No advertising elements typical to the environment of young people, media stars, sports personalities, or models under 30. The use of the terms "mild" and "light" are limited per Voluntary Restrictions on Advertising.)
Greece	Europe	None	18	(Nobody under the age of 18 is permitted to buy cigarettes or tobacco products, however this is rarely enforced.)
Hungary	Europe	18	18	(The legal smoking age is 18 per the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Non-Smokers and on the Prevention of Health Damage Related to Smoking, Sec. 2, version b. The sale of tobacco is prohibited within 200 m of schools and health care units per the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Non-Smokers and on the Prevention of Health Damage Related to Smoking, Sec. 2. Vending machines selling tobacco are restricted. Children and persons under 18 cannot smoke anywhere even in the places where smoking is allowed. Tobacco cannot be sold to minors under 18 years or distributed as free samples per the New Tobacco Act (submitted to Parliament in 1996, passed in April 1999, effective November 1999).)
Iceland	Europe	None	18	Vending machines selling tobacco are banned. No tobacco may be sold in schools or institutions for minors. Smoking in schools, day nurseries, buildings intended for social and leisure activities of people under 18, and health centers are prohibited per Law No.6 of 31 May 2002 on the prevention of the use of tobacco.
Ireland	Europe	16	18	(The sale of tobacco to persons under 18 is illegal. It is illegal to buy or smoke cigarettes if you are under the age of 18.)
Isle of Man	Europe	None	18
Italy	Europe	None	18	Translated from the Italian Ministry of Health tobacco regulation document: 'The Italian regulations on tobacco, with the overall objective of protecting the health of citizens, particularly young people, prohibits the sale and supply of tobacco to minors under 18 years of age, who are also banned from smoking in public places.'
Latvia	Europe	18	18	The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited per Tobacco Products Manufacture, Sales, Advertising And Smoking Restrictions (approval date 18 December 1996, effective date 1 January 1997). Cigarette vending machines are also prohibited.
Lithuania	Europe	None	18	The legal age of purchase is 18 per Law on Tobacco Control, Article 14. The sale of tobacco is prohibited in pharmacies, health care institutions, educational institutions, and retail enterprises where 50% or more of the goods available are intended for children. Smoking is prohibited in all educational and healthcare institutions and areas thereof, restaurants, coffee shops, bars without separate designated places for smoking, in general residential and other premises designated for general use, also in premises where sports competitions and other events take place. Tobacco vending machines are restricted per Law on Tobacco Control, Article 15.
Luxembourg	Europe	None	16	(The tobacco control law, voted on 11 August 2006, prohibits selling tobacco to minors under 16 years. Only the vendor is punishable under this. The tobacco industry is prohibited from sponsoring events for children. Smoking is prohibited in hospitals, waiting rooms of physicians and dentists, pharmacies, educational establishments, places that receive or house persons under 18 years of age per Law of 24 March 1989 restricting the advertising of tobacco and tobacco products and prohibiting smoking in certain places. This, however, may well be changed in the near future.)
Macedonia	Europe	None	16	Over 16 only. (Law on Protection Against Smoking (Tobacco Law), Article 5)
Malta	Europe	None	18
Moldova	Europe	None	18
Montenegro	Europe	None	18
Netherlands	Europe	None	18	The sale of tobacco to persons under 18 is illegal. Smoking of tobacco is prohibited by law in all public buildings and in public transport. As of 1 January 2004 every employee has the right to work in a smoke-free environment. All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship are prohibited. Smoking remains prevalent in the Netherlands despite these efforts. Tobacco can be bought at every supermarked and at other stores.
Norway	Europe	None	18	(No age limit for use of tobacco but no sales of cigarettes or Swedish snus to people under 18 by law. Vending machines are only allowed when they are cited inside an approved store, with a demand of buying a receipt from the cashier first. and imitation tobacco products are not allowed. Cigarette commercials are also strictly forbidden by law. As of June 2004, smoking is prohibited in all public places, including restaurants, pubs and work places.)
Poland	Europe	None	18	(Law of 9 November 1995 on the protection of health against the effects of the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products)
Portugal	Europe	18	18	(Since 2008, the minimum age for purchase and consumption of tobacco is 18. Previously, the minimum age was 16. Advertisements for any kind of tobacco, appearing in or on television, radio, newspapers or magazines are also prohibited. It is an offense to smoke in any public, closed place that does not meet the established requirements (at least 100 m² with an exhauster and an identified zone dedicated to smokers). The offense is punishable with a fine of up to €750 and applies to restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, malls (except in identified areas), hospitals, schools, workplaces and public transports. There is a proposition to ban vending machines in places accessible to people younger than 18. In an attempt to reduce consumption, taxes and minimum prices of cigarettes have been greatly increased in the last 3 years.)
Romania	Europe	None	18	There is a ban on sale of tobacco to those younger than 18. Vending machines selling tobacco are banned. There is no minimum legal age of smoking ("Minimum legal age in Romania").
Serbia	Europe	None	18	The sale to persons under 18 is prohibited. Contrary to that, a lot of salesmen sell cigarettes to minors in Serbia. Acquiring tobacco products is very easy for minors despite the law.
Slovakia	Europe	None	18	(The minimum age is 18 [Law on Protection of Non-Smokers, Sec.6(3)] and there is a vending machine ban. [Law on Protection of Non-Smokers, Sec. 6(2)(c)])
Slovenia	Europe	None	18	The minimum age to purchase tobacco is 16 and there is a vending machine ban. However smoking age is not mentioned in the law as long as the parent is present. [Restriction on the Use of Tobacco Products Act, Sec. 141]
Spain	Europe	18	18	You must be at least 18 to purchase and 18 to smoke tobacco. [Royal Decree 192/2010 of 4 March Regarding Limitations in the Sale and Use of Tobacco to Protect the Health of the Population, Article 5, Sec.1] Sale is banned in public schools and in health establishments. [Royal Decree 1199/1999 of Implementing Law 13/1998, Article 32, Sec. 1 and Law 13/1998 of 4 May on Tobacco Trade and Tax Legislation, Article 4, Sec. 9; Order of 7 November 1989, Ministry of Education and Science, Article 1] Tobacco can only be bought at licensed stores. "Tabacos" stores.
Sweden	Europe	None	18	(Prior to 1997, no legal age on smoking. Starting January 1997, no persons under age 18 are allowed to purchase tobacco products. [Swedish Tobacco Act, Sec.12])
Switzerland	Europe	16 or 18, varies by canton	16 or 18, varies by canton	There is no federal law which sets a legal smoking age, every canton has its own laws. Cantons with an age restriction of 18 years: Neuchatel, Schaffhausen, Zug, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, Jura, Bern, Vaud, Ticino & Nidwalden. Cantons with an age restriction of 16 years: Zurich, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Graubünden, Uri, Lucerne, Aargau, Solothurn, Fribourg, Valais, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Schwyz, Glarus, Obwalden, Geneva.
Ukraine	Europe	None	18
United Kingdom	Europe	16	18	Could be purchased at the age of 16 until 1 October 2007. It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 in England and Wales. The minimum age for consumption in public is 16, however there is no age limit for consumption in private. Possession is not an offence, providing they are not being consumed underage, Although consumption laws are not strictly enforced due to the high amount of teenage smokers. In Scotland the minimum age for sale, purchase, and possession in a public place is 18. The minimum age in Northern Ireland was raised from 16 to 18 in 2008.
Canada	North America	None, except 18 in Alberta, 19 in Nova Scotia and 16 in Ontario	18 or 19, varies by province/territory	It is illegal to give tobacco to a minor. Legal age to purchase tobacco by province are as follows. Alberta - 18 British Columbia - 19 Manitoba - 18 New Brunswick - 19 Newfoundland and Labrador - 19 Northwest Territories - 18 Nova Scotia - 19 Nunavut - 19 Ontario - 19 Prince Edward Island - 19 Quebec - 18 Saksatchewan - 18 Yukon Territory - 18
Cuba	North America	None	16	The Ministry of Commerce Resolution bans the sale of cigarettes to persons under the age of 16.
Dominican Republic	North America	None	18	The sale and supply of alcoholic drinks and tobacco products to minors under age 18 is prohibited per Law Number 272.
Costa Rica	North America	10	18	Sale of cigarettes to minors (younger than age 18 years) is prohibited per Decree No. 17967-S of 4 February 1988. Consumption by children under the age of 10 is prohibited.
El Salvador	North America	18	18	The legal smoking age is 18. Cigarette sales to minors are banned per Decree No. 955 of 11 May 1988 promulgating the Health Code (Division 41-(Secs.196-190)).
Honduras	North America	None	16	The sale of cigarettes or tobacco products to persons under 16 years of age is prohibited. Since the anti tobacco law was approved and started in 21 February 2011.
Mexico	North America	18	18	A person must be 18 years old to purchase or to smoke cigarettes including any tobacco products.
Nicaragua	North America	None	18
Trinidad and Tobago	North America	18	18	One must be 18 years and above to buy and use tobacco products legally. [An act relating to the protection of children and young persons, industrial schools, and orphanages, and juvenile offenders (the Children Act), Chap. 46:01, Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, 17 March 1925]
United States	North America	Varies by State/territory	18 or 19, varies by State/territory	Each state and many localities have different smoking laws. The purchase of tobacco by a person under the age of 18 is illegal and the vendor may suffer a fine for selling the underaged person tobacco products. The purchasing age in the United States is 18 for 46 of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah have raised the purchasing age to 19. Onondaga, Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York have done the same. Some towns in Massachusetts have set a purchase age of 21. The legal age to purchase cigarettes in New York City is also 21 as of April 1, 2014. It is legal for persons under the age of 18 to smoke, however they cannot legally purchase the cigarettes. In both Alabama and Florida, it is illegal for persons under that particular state's legal age to possess tobacco products. These charges are considered youthful, non-criminal offenses that are normally cleared up with community service. In Utah it is a Class C misdemeanor for persons under 19 to possess tobacco products. When a customer appears to be under a specific age, state and local laws may require retailers to verify age from official documentation. On 30 October 2013, the New York City Council voted to raise minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 21 in New York City's five boroughs, and the law was signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on November 19, 2013.
Australia	Oceania	None	18	Sales of tobacco to children under the age of 18 are illegal in all Australian states and territories. It is also illegal for a person over 18 to give a child under 18 cigarettes or tobacco products. It is as well, illegal for a person under 18 to purchase cigarettes The smoking age varies among states and territories but 18 to purchase. In most states it is illegal for any person under 18 to smoke tobacco products however in some states such as Victoria there is no minimum age to smoke just purchase. If you look under the age of 25, a compulsory age check is required. To smoke Ban on the sale of tobacco to minors under 18 years; restrictions on the distribution of free samples per Order No. 731 of 1990-05-30.|}
Cook Islands	Oceania	21	21	The legal smoking age is 21, and a signature is required per Tobacco Products Control Act (No.3) 1987 Sec.6.
Nauru	Oceania	None	16	Not for sale for children under 16 due to the Prohibition of the Possession of Tobacco by Children Ordinance 1924, No.7/1924, Sec. 2.
New Zealand	Oceania	18	18	It is illegal in New Zealand to sell cigarettes and tobacco products to persons aged under 18. It is also illegal for a person over 18 to give a person under 18 cigarettes or tobacco products in a public place. However there are no laws prohibiting somebody under 18 from possessing and/or consuming tobacco in public (unless they are smoking in "any enclosed space" which is illegal in New Zealand for smokers of all ages) [Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003]
Solomon Islands	Oceania	21	21	One must be over 18 [Solomon Islands Tobacco Products Control Act, Sec. 12(1)] and there is a vending machine ban [Solomon Islands Tobacco Products Control Act, Sec. 13].
Papua New Guinea	Oceania	18	18	No sale to anyone under the age of 18. A person shall not sell or hand over tobacco products to a person who is or apparently is under the age of 18 years, including imitations of tobacco products. [The Tobacco Products (Health Control) Act 1987]
Chile	South America	18	18	Prohibition of tobacco advertising in publications designated for minors under 10 years. It is prohibited to offer, distribute, or give free of charge tobacco products to minors under 16 years of age in public places.
Colombia	South America	18	18	Mandate that cigarettes or tobacco may be dispensed only to persons aged 18 and older. (Ley 30 January 1986,"The National Intoxication Statute") Advertising allowed on television between 2300 and 0600 and is limited to 30 seconds for each brand; commercial advertising must devote 20% of transmission time to the warning "tobacco is harmful to health" due to Resolution No. 4063 of 1982 regulating Decree No. 3430 of 26 November concerning restrictions on advertising. A new tobacco control law, voted in July 2009, prohibits—among other changes—the sale of tobacco to minors.
Ecuador	South America	18	19	The consumption of cigarettes and alcohol inside and around all schools (at all educational levels) by staff and students is prohibited per Law No. 2369 of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Peru	South America	18	18	The General Act on Prevention and Control of the Risks of Use of Snuff (Law No. 28705) was developed by Congress of the Republic. Articles 11 and 12 have the following provisions: Article 11 .- In the marketing bans They are: Direct or indirect sale of snuff products in any health or education facilities, whether public or private and public agencies is prohibited. The sale of snuff products to persons under 18 years is banned. The selling of snuff products by persons under 18 years is forbidden. The selling of cigarettes without filters is forbidden. The selling of snuff product packages containing less than five (5) units is forbidden. The promotional free distribution of snuff products, except when in an objective and verifiable manner it can be shown that the recipient is over 18 years, is forbidden. The promotional and/or free distribution of toys similar to snuff products or alluding to them, which may be attractive to minors is forbidden. Article 12 .- In the provision of vending machines The sale of snuff products in vending machines can only be performed on premises to which access is permitted only to persons over 18 years.