Hawaii has welcomed the New Year with a new policy: increase legal age for smoking to 21. With the implementation of the new law on January 1, Hawaii became the first state in the US to increase smoking age from 18 to 21.

Now, the law demands consumers to buy tobacco products only if they are 21 or above. E- Cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices are also come under the new policy. Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, signed a new legislation last year in June to address smoking measures among individuals under 18.

“We are proud to once again be at the forefront of the nation in tobacco prevention and control” said Virginia Pressler, the health director of Hawaii. It may be a step taken by Hawaii to be a state with the healthiest people in the US.

The new policy states that establishments found selling tobacco products to individuals under 21 will be penalized from $500 to $2,000. Underage people who will be caught buying the product will also be fined between $10 and $50. They may also face community service, as per the new policy.

The state lawmakers have also given a time period of three months to Hawaii residents to adjust to the new law. In the start, they will not be punished, and instead warming could be issued in the allocated period. The new policy also asks establishments not to directly display tobacco products. All tobacco products should be placed behind or below the counter and their displays should be locked, as per the policy.