document_title: History of Social Security in the United States

question_text: who was the first president to touch social security

root

text: Origins and design[edit]

text: The idea of a federally funded pension plan was popularized by Francis Townsend in 1933, and the influence of the "Townsend Plan" movement on debate over social security persisted into the 1950s.[4][5] Early debates on Social Security's design centered on how the program's benefits should be funded. Some believed that benefits to individuals should be funded by contributions that they themselves had made over the course of their careers. Others argued that this design would disadvantage those who had already begun their careers at the time of the program's implementation because they would not have enough time to accumulate adequate benefits.[6]

tag: p

text: Initial opposition[edit]

text: Social Security was controversial when originally proposed, with one point of opposition being that it would reduce the labor force, but supporters argued instead that retiring older workers would free up employment for young men, which during the Depression was a vital point of concern.

text: Opponents also decried the proposal as socialism.[7][8][9] In a Senate Finance Committee hearing, one Senator asked Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, "Isn't this socialism?" She said that it was not, but he continued, "Isn't this a teeny-weeny bit of socialism?"[10]

text: Most women and minorities were excluded from the benefits of unemployment insurance and old age pensions.[11] Job categories that were not covered by the act included workers in agricultural labor, domestic service, government employees, and many teachers, nurses, hospital employees, librarians, and social workers.[12] The act also denied coverage to individuals who worked intermittently.[13] These jobs were dominated by women and minorities. For example, women made up 90 percent of domestic labor in 1940 and two-thirds of all employed black women were in domestic service.[14] Exclusions exempted nearly half of the working population.[13] Nearly two-thirds of all African Americans in the labor force, 70 to 80 percent in some areas in the South, and just over half of all women employed were not covered by Social Security.[15][16] At the time, the NAACP protested the Social Security Act, describing it as “a sieve with holes just big enough for the majority of Negroes to fall through.”[16]

text: Some writers have suggested that this discrimination resulted from the powerful position of Southern Democrats on two of the committees pivotal for the Act's creation, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. However, Larry DeWitt has refuted those arguments, showing there was no evidence for them. Indeed, southern Democrats in 1935 were generally liberal and strongly supported of the New Deal and Social Security. They became much more conservative after 1937.[citation needed] The Social Security law was very unpopular among many groups, especially farmers, who resented the additional taxes and feared they would never be made good. They lobbied hard for exclusion. Furthermore, the Treasury realized how difficult it would be to set up payroll deduction plans for farmers, for housekeepers who employed maids, and for nonprofit groups; therefore they were excluded. State employees were excluded for constitutional reasons (the federal government cannot tax state government). Federal employees were also excluded. Many textbooks, however, falsely indicate that the exclusions were the product of southern racial hostility toward blacks; there is no evidence of that in the record.[17] Other scholars have replicated and endorsed DeWitt's analysis, agreeing that the exclusions were made by policy experts on technical grounds and were not grounded on racial hostility. Rodems and Shaefer note in all other countries unemployment insurance programs "excluded domestic and agricultural workers when they were first implemented, a fact that the key New Deal policy makers were well aware of."[18] The exclusions followed consultation with leading experts in Europe as well as the United States, including William Beveridge, Henry Steel-Maitland, and R.C. Davison in Britain, Andre Tixier of the International Labour Organization, and Edwin Witte, Wilbur J. Cohen, and Evelyn Burns in the United States.[19]

text: Social Security reinforced traditional views of family life.[20] Women generally qualified for benefits only through their husbands or children.[20] Mothers’ pensions (Title IV) based entitlements on the presumption that mothers would be unemployed.[20]

text: Historical discrimination in the system can also be seen with regard to Aid to Dependent Children. Since this money was allocated to the states to distribute, some localities assessed black families as needing less money than white families. These low grant levels made it impossible for African American mothers to not work: one requirement of the program.[21] Some states also excluded children born out of wedlock, an exclusion which affected African American women more than white women.[22] One study determined that 14.4% of eligible white individuals received funding, but only 1.5 percent of eligible black individuals received these benefits.[16]

text: Debates on the constitutionality of the Act[edit]

text: In the 1930s, the Supreme Court struck down many pieces of Roosevelt's New Deal legislation, including the Railroad Retirement Act. The Social Security Act's similarity with the Railroad Retirement Act caused Edwin Witte- the executive director of the President's Committee on Economic Security under Roosevelt who was credited as "the father of social security"-[23] to question whether or not the bill would pass;[24] John Gall, an Associate Counsel for the National Association of Manufacturers who testified before the US House of Representatives in favor of the act, also felt that the bill was rushed through Congress too quickly and that the old age provision of the act was "hodgepodge" that needed to be written more properly in order to have a higher likelihood of being ruled constitutional.[25] The Court threw out a centerpiece of the New Deal, the National Industrial Recovery Act, the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and New York State's minimum-wage law. President Roosevelt responded with an attempt to pack the court via the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937. On February 5, 1937, he sent a special message to Congress proposing legislation granting the President new powers to add additional judges to all federal courts whenever there were sitting judges age 70 or older who refused to retire.[26] The practical effect of this proposal was that the President would get to appoint six new Justices to the Supreme Court (and 44 judges to lower federal courts), thus instantly tipping the political balance on the Court dramatically in his favor. The debate on this proposal was heated and widespread, and lasted over six months. Beginning with a set of decisions in March, April, and May, 1937 (including the Social Security Act cases), the Court would sustain a series of New Deal legislation.[27]

text: Two Supreme Court rulings affirmed the constitutionality of the Social Security Act.

text:
Steward Machine Company v. Davis, 301 U.S, 548[28] (1937) held, in a 5–4 decision, that, given the exigencies of the Great Depression, "[It] is too late today for the argument to be heard with tolerance that in a crisis so extreme the use of the moneys of the nation to relieve the unemployed and their dependents is a use for any purpose narrower than the promotion of the general welfare". The arguments opposed to the Social Security Act (articulated by justices Butler, McReynolds, and Sutherland in their opinions) were that the social security act went beyond the powers that were granted to the federal government in the Constitution. They argued that, by imposing a tax on employers that could be avoided only by contributing to a state unemployment-compensation fund, the federal government was essentially forcing each state to establish an unemployment-compensation fund that would meet its criteria, and that the federal government had no power to enact such a program.
Helvering v. Davis, 301 U.S. 619 (1937), decided on the same day as Steward, upheld the program because "The proceeds of both [employee and employer] taxes are to be paid into the Treasury like internal-revenue taxes generally, and are not earmarked in any way". That is, the Social Security Tax was constitutional as a mere exercise of Congress's general taxation powers.

tag: ul

text: Implementation[edit]

text: The first reported Social Security payment was to Ernest Ackerman, a Cleveland motorman who retired only one day after Social Security began.[29] Five cents were withheld from his pay during that period, and he received a lump-sum payout of seventeen cents from Social Security.[29][30]

text: The first monthly payment was issued on January 31, 1940 to Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont.[31] In 1937, 1938, and 1939, she paid a total of $24.75 into the Social Security System. Her first check was for $22.54.[31] After her second check, Fuller already had received more than she contributed over the three-year period. She ultimately reached her 100th birthday, dying in 1975[31] and she collected a total of $22,888.92.[32]

text: Expansion and evolution[edit]

text: The provisions of Social Security have been changing since the 1930s, shifting in response to economic worries as well as concerns over changing gender roles and the position of minorities. Officials have responded more to the concerns of women than those of minority groups.[33] Social Security gradually moved toward universal coverage. By 1950, debates moved away from which occupational groups should be included to how to provide more adequate coverage.[34] Changes in Social Security have reflected a balance between promoting equality and efforts to provide adequate protection.[35]

text: In 1940, benefits paid totaled $35 million. These rose to $961 million in 1950, $11.2 billion in 1960, $31.9 billion in 1970, $120.5 billion in 1980, and $247.8 billion in 1990 (all figures in nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation). In 2004, $492 billion of benefits were paid to 47.5 million beneficiaries.[36] In 2009, nearly 51 million Americans received $650 billion in Social Security benefits.

text: The effects of Social Security took decades to manifest themselves. In 1950, it was reported that as many as 40% of Americans over 65 were still employed in some capacity, but by 1980 that figure had dropped to less than 20%. In 1990, fewer than 11% of Americans over 65 were still employed, an all-time low after which the number began to slowly rise again.

text: During the 1950s, over-65s continued to have the highest poverty rate of any age group in the US with the largest percentage of the nation's wealth concentrated in the hands of Americans under 35. By 2010, this figure had dramatically reversed itself with the largest percentage of wealth being in the hands of Americans aged 55–75 and those under 45 being among the poorest. Elder poverty, once a normal sight, had thus become rare by the 21st century.[37]

text: 1939 Amendment[edit]

text: Economic concerns[edit]

text: One reason for the proposed changes in 1939 was a growing concern over the impact that the reserves created by the 1935 act were having on the economy. The Recession of 1937 was blamed on the government, tied to the abrupt decrease in government spending and the $2 billion that had been collected in Social Security taxes.[38] Benefits became available in 1940 instead of 1942 and changes to the benefit formula increased the amount of benefits available to all recipients in the early years of Social Security.[39] These two policies combined to shrink the size of the reserves. The original Act had conceived of the program as paying benefits out of a large reserve. This Act shifted the conception of Social Security into something of a hybrid system; while reserves would still accumulate, most early beneficiaries would receive benefits on the pay-as-you-go system. Just as importantly, the changes also delayed planned rises in contribution rates. Ironically if these had been left in place they would have come into effect during the wartime boom in wages and would have arguably helped to temper wartime inflation.[40]

text: Creation of the Social Security Trust Fund[edit]

text: The amendments established a trust fund for any surplus funds. The managing trustee of this fund is the Secretary of the Treasury. The money could be invested in both non-marketable and marketable securities.[41]

text: The move toward family protection[edit]

text: Calls for reform of Social Security emerged within a few years of the 1935 Act. Even as early as 1936, some believed that women were not getting enough support. Worried that a lack of assistance might push women back into the work force, these individuals wanted Social Security changes that would prevent this. In an effort to protect the family, therefore, some called for reform which tied women's aid more concretely to their dependency on their husbands.[42] Others expressed apprehension about the complicated administrative practices of Social Security.[43] Concerns about the size of the reserve fund of the retirement program, emphasized by a recession in 1937, led to further calls for change.[44]

text: These amendments, however, avoided the question of the large numbers of workers in excluded categories.[45] Instead, the amendments of 1939 made family protection a part of Social Security. This included increased federal funding for the Aid to Dependent Children and raised the maximum age of children eligible to receive money under the Aid to Dependent Children to 18. The amendment added wives, elderly widows, and dependent survivors of covered male workers to those who could receive old age pensions. These individuals had previously been granted lump-sum payments upon only death or coverage through the Aid to Dependent Children program. If a married wage-earning woman’s own benefit was worth less than 50% of her husband’s benefit, she was treated as a wife, not a worker.[46] If a woman who was covered by Social Security died, however, her dependents were ineligible for her benefits.[47] Since support for widows was dependent on the husband being a covered worker, African American widows were severely underrepresented and unaided by these changes.[48]

text: In order to assure fiscal conservatives who worried about the costs of adding family protection policies, the benefits for single workers were decreased and lump-sum death payments were abolished.[49]

text: FICA[edit]

text: In the original 1935 law, the benefit provisions were in Title II of the Act (which is why Social Security is sometimes referred to as the "Title II" program.) The taxing provisions were in a separate title (Title VIII) (for reasons related to the constitutionality of the 1935 Act). As part of the 1939 Amendments, the Title VIII taxing provisions were taken out of the Social Security Act and placed in the Internal Revenue Code and renamed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Social Security payroll taxes are thus often referred to as "FICA taxes."

text: Amendments of the 1950s and 60s[edit]

text: After years of debates about the inclusion of domestic labor, household employees working at least two days a week for the same person were added in 1950, along with nonprofit workers and the self-employed. Hotel workers, laundry workers, all agricultural workers, and state and local government employees were added in 1954.[50]

text: In 1956, the tax rate was raised to 4.0 percent (2.0 percent for the employer, 2.0 percent for the employee) and disability benefits were added. Also in 1956, women were allowed to retire at 62 with benefits reduced by 25 percent. Widows of covered workers were allowed to retire at 62 without the reduction in benefits.[51]

text: In 1961, retirement at age 62 was extended to men, and the tax rate was increased to 6.0%.

text: In 1962, the changing role of the female worker was acknowledged when benefits of covered women could be collected by dependent husbands, widowers, and children. These individuals, however, had to be able to prove their dependency.[52]

text: Medicare and Medicaid were added in 1965 by the Social Security Act of 1965, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" program.

text: In 1965, the age at which widows could begin collecting benefits was reduced to 60. Widowers were not included in this change. When divorce, rather than death, became the major cause of marriages ending, divorcées were added to the list of recipients. Divorcées over the age of 65 who had been married for at least 20 years, remained unmarried, and could demonstrate dependency on their ex-husbands received benefits.[53]

text: The government adopted a unified budget in the Johnson administration in 1968. This change resulted in a single measure of the fiscal status of the government, based on the sum of all government activity.[54] The surplus in Social Security trust funds offsets the total debt, making it appear much smaller than it otherwise would. This allowed Congress to increase spending without having to risk the political consequences of raising taxes.

text: Amendments of the 1970s[edit]

text: 1972 Amendments[edit]

text: In June 1972, both houses of the United States Congress approved by overwhelming majorities 20% increases in benefits for 27.8 million Americans. The average payment per month rose from $133 to $166. The bill also set up a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to take effect in 1975. This adjustment would be made on a yearly basis if the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3% or more.[55] This addition was an attempt to index benefits to inflation so that benefits would rise automatically. If inflation was 5%, the goal was to automatically increase benefits by 5% so their real value didn't decline. A technical error in the formula caused these adjustments to overcompensate for inflation, a technical mistake which has been called double-indexing. The COLAs actually caused benefits to increase at twice the rate of inflation.

text: In October 1972, a $5 billion piece of Social Security legislation was enacted which expanded the Social Security program. For example, minimum monthly benefits of individuals employed in low income positions for at least 30 years were raised. Increases were also made to the pensions of 3.8 million widows and dependent widowers.[55]

text: These amendments also established the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is not a Social Security benefit, but a welfare program, because the elderly and disabled poor are entitled to SSI regardless of work history. Likewise, SSI is not an entitlement, because there is no right to SSI payments.

text: Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, during the phase-in period of Social Security, Congress was able to grant generous benefit increases because the system had perpetual short-run surpluses. Congressional amendments to Social Security took place in even numbered years (election years) because the bills were politically popular, but by the late 1970s, this era was over. For the next three decades, projections of Social Security's finances would show large, long-term deficits, and in the early 1980s, the program flirted with immediate insolvency. From this point on, amendments to Social Security would take place in odd numbered years (years that were not election years) because Social Security reform now meant tax increases and benefit reductions. Social Security became known as the "Third Rail of American Politics." Touching it meant political death.

text: Several effects came together in the years following the 1972 amendments which rapidly changed the outlook on Social Security's long-term financial picture from positive to problematic. By the 1970s, the phase-in period, during which workers were paying taxes but few were collecting benefits, was largely over, and the ratio of elderly population to the working population was increasing. These developments brought questions about the capacity of the long term financial structure based on a pay-as-you-go program.

text: During the Carter administration, the economy suffered double-digit inflation, coupled with very high interest rates, oil and energy crises, high unemployment and slow economic growth. Productivity growth in the United States had declined to an average annual rate of 1%, compared to an average annual rate increase of 3.2% during the 1960s. There was also a growing federal budget deficit which increased to $66 billion. The 1970s are described as a period of stagflation, meaning economic stagnation coupled with price inflation, as well as higher interest rates. Price inflation (a rise in the general level of prices) creates uncertainty in budgeting and planning and makes labor strikes for pay raises more likely. These underlying negative trends were exacerbated by a colossal mathematical error made in the 1972 amendments establishing the COLAs. The mathematical error which overcompensated for inflation was particularly detrimental given the double-digit inflation of this period, and the error led to benefit increases that were nowhere near financially sustainable.

text: The high inflation, double-indexing, and lower than expected wage growth was financial disaster for Social Security.

text: 1977 Amendments[edit]

text: To combat the declining financial outlook, in 1977 Congress passed and Carter signed legislation fixing the double-indexing mistake. This amendment also altered the tax formulas to raise more money,[56] increasing withholding from 2% to 6.15%.[57] With these changes, President Carter remarked, "Now this legislation will guarantee that from 1980 to the year 2030, the Social Security funds will be sound."[58] This turned out not to be the case. The financial picture declined almost immediately and by the early 1980s, the system was again in crisis.

text: 1983 Amendments[edit]

text: After the 1977 amendments, the economic assumptions surrounding Social Security projections continued to be overly optimistic as the program moved toward a crisis. For example, COLAs were attached to increases in the CPI. This meant that they changed with prices, instead of wages. Before the 1970s, wage measurements exceeded changes in price. In the 1970s, however, this reversed and real wages decreased. This meant that FICA revenues could not keep up with the increasing benefits that were being given out. Continued high unemployment levels also lowered the amount of Social Security tax that could be collected. These two developments were decreasing the Social Security Trust Fund reserves.[59] In 1982, projections indicated that the Social Security Trust Fund would run out of money by 1983, and there was talk of the system being unable to pay benefits.[60] The National Commission on Social Security Reform, chaired by Alan Greenspan, was created to address the crisis.

text: The National Commission on Social Security Reform (NCSSR), chaired by Alan Greenspan, was empaneled to investigate the long-run solvency of Social Security. The 1983 Amendments to the SSA were based on the NCSSR's Final Report.[61] The NCSSR recommended enacting a six-month delay in the COLA and changing the tax-rate schedules for the years between 1984 and 1990.[62] It also proposed an income tax on the Social Security benefits of higher-income individuals. This meant that benefits in excess of a household income threshold, generally $25,000 for singles and $32,000 for couples (the precise formula computes and compares three different measures) became taxable. These changes were important for generating revenue in the short term.

text: Also of concern was the long-term prospect for Social Security because of demographic considerations. Of particular concern was the issue of what would happen when people born during the post–World War II baby boom retired. The NCSSR made several recommendations for addressing the issue.[63] Under the 1983 amendments to Social Security, a previously enacted increase in the payroll tax rate was accelerated, additional employees were added to the system, the full-benefit retirement age was slowly increased, and up to one-half of the value of the Social Security benefit was made potentially taxable income.[64][65]

text: Social Security Trust Fund[edit]

text: The 1983 Amendments also included a provision to exclude the Social Security Trust Fund from the unified budget (to take it “off-budget.”[citation needed]) Yet today Social Security is treated like all the other trust funds of the Unified Budget.[citation needed]

text: As a result of these changes, particularly the tax increases, the Social Security system began to generate a large short-term surplus of funds, intended to cover the added retirement costs of the "baby boomers." Congress invested these surpluses into special series, non-marketable U.S. Treasury securities held by the Social Security Trust Fund. Under the law, the government bonds held by Social Security are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

text: The Supreme Court and the evolution of Social Security[edit]

text: The Supreme Court has established that no one has any legal right to Social Security benefits. The Court decided, in Flemming v. Nestor (1960), that "entitlement to Social Security benefits is not a contractual right". In that case, Ephram Nestor, a Bulgarian immigrant to the United States who made contributions for covered wages for the statutorily required "quarters of coverage" was nonetheless denied benefits after being deported in 1956 for being a member of the Communist party.

text: The case specifically held:

text: 2. A person covered by the Social Security Act has not such a right in old-age benefit payments as would make every defeasance of "accrued" interests violative of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Pp. 608–611. (a) The noncontractual interest of an employee covered by the Act cannot be soundly analogized to that of the holder of an annuity, whose right to benefits are based on his contractual premium payments. Pp. 608–610. (b) To engraft upon the Social Security System a concept of "accrued property rights" would deprive it of the flexibility and [363 U.S. 603, 604] boldness in adjustment to ever-changing conditions which it demands and which Congress probably had in mind when it expressly reserved the right to alter, amend or repeal any provision of the Act. Pp. 610–611. 3. Section 202 (n) of the Act cannot be condemned as so lacking in rational justification as to offend due process. Pp. 611–612. 4. Termination of appellee's benefits under 202 (n) does not amount to punishing him without a trial, in violation of Art. III, 2, cl. 3, of the Constitution or the Sixth Amendment; nor is 202 (n) a bill of attainder or ex post facto law, since its purpose is not punitive. Pp. 612–621.[65]

text: The Supreme Court was also responsible for major changes in Social Security. Many of these cases were pivotal in changing the assumptions about differences in wage earning among men and women in the Social Security system.[66]

text:
Goldberg v. Kelly (1970): The Supreme Court ruled that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment required there to be an evidentiary hearing before a recipient can be deprived of government benefits.[35]
Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld (1975): Stephen Wiesenfeld was a widower who claimed that he was entitled to his deceased wife’s benefit, before this case a widow and their children were eligible for her husband's Social Security benefits, however if a wife died only her children and not the widower could receive benefits. Wiesenfeld believed that this violated his right to equal protection under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. The court upheld his claims, stating that automatically granting widows the benefits and denying them to widowers violated equal protection in the Fourteenth Amendment.[67]

text: Dates of coverage for various workers[edit]

text:
1935 All workers in commerce and industry (except railroads) under age 65.
1939 Age restriction eliminated; seamen, bank employees added; additional domestic workers and food-processing workers removed
1946 Railroad and Social Security earnings combined to determine eligibility for and amount of survivor benefits.
1950 Regularly employed farm and domestic workers. Nonfarm self-employed (except professional groups). Federal civilian employees not under retirement system. Americans employed outside United States by American employer. Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. At the option of the State, State and local government employees not under retirement system. Nonprofit organizations could elect coverage for their employees (other than ministers).
1951 Railroad workers with less than 10 years of service, for all benefits. (After October 1951, coverage is retroactive to 1937.)
1954 Farm self-employed. Professional self-employed except lawyers, dentists, doctors, and other medical groups. Additional regularly employed farm and domestic workers. Homeworkers. State and local government employees (except firemen and policemen) under retirement system if agreed to by referendum. Ministers could elect coverage as self-employed.
1956 Members of the uniformed services. Remainder of professional self-employed except doctors. By referendum, firemen and policemen in designated States.
1965 Interns. Self-employed doctors. Tips.
1967 Ministers (unless exemption is claimed on grounds of conscience or religious principles). Firemen under retirement system in all States.
1972 Members of a religious order subject to a vow of poverty.
1983 All federal civilian employees hired after 1983; members of Congress, the President and Vice-President and federal judges; all employees of nonprofit organizations. Covered state and local government employees prohibited from opting out of Social Security.
1990 Employees of state and local governments not covered under a retirement plan.[68]


document_title: Centurion Card

question_text: how do you qualify for american express black card

text: Centurion Card

text: History[edit]

text: In 1991 American Express introduced the Centurion Card to cater to the very wealthy. The card was initially available only to selected users of the company's Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express eligibility criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries also an initiation fee. (In the United States, the initiation fee is $7,500 in addition to the $2,500 annual fee from each cardholder).[3] In addition to a variety of benefits, the card itself is made of anodized titanium[3] with the information and numbers laser etched into the metal. (It should be noted that in some markets the plastic version of the card is still issued, with or without the titanium card.) The plastic card and 2014 and earlier Centurion cards include embossed information on the card. The Centurion 2015 Card introduced laser etching. In some locations, such as Israel, EMV "chip" plastic cards which also include the ExpressPay contactless payment technology are issued. American Express created the card line amid rumors and urban legends in the 1980s that it produced an ultra-exclusive black card for elite users who could purchase anything with it.[4]

text: Features[edit]

text: Availability and fees[edit]

text: The Centurion Card is invitation-only after appropriate net worth With American Express, credit, and spending criteria are met.[3] American Express does not publicly disclose the requirements necessary for getting or keeping a card, except that the cardholder needs to have a substantial net worth, as well as having been a Platinum card holder.[3]

text: While the eligibility criteria are subject to speculation, most reliable sources agree that Centurion Card holders have historically spent US$250,000 or more per year on lower-level American Express cards, and have annual household incomes of around US$1.3 million and net worths of at least US$16 million.[5]

text:
Centurion Card annual fees

Country
Annual fee/limit

United States
US$2,500 (US$2,500 for each additional card member) plus one-time joining fee of US$7,500[6]

United Kingdom
£2,200 (US$2,821) (unlimited) plus one-time joining fee of £2,500

Canada
C$2,500 (US$1,923) plus one-time fee of C$5,000 (US$3,846)

India
₹200,000 (US$3,071) plus one time fees of ₹250,000 (US$3,839)

France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands
€3,000 (US$3,382) plus one time fee €3,000 (Italy)

Germany, Austria
€5,000 (US$5,637) plus one-time fee of €4,000 (US$4,510)

Switzerland
CHF 4,200 (US$4,286) (unlimited)

Australia
A$5,000 (US$3,846) (increased from A$4,300 (US$3,308), effective 11 July 2012) plus one-time fee of A$5,000 (US$3,846), effective 11 July 2012

Japan
¥365,000 (US$3,254) (increased from ¥197,000 (US$1,756), effective 1 January 2008)

Hong Kong
HK$38,800 (US$4,999) plus one time fee of 4999 (increase from HK$19,800 (US$2,551), effective 30 May 2013)

China (People's Republic of China)
CN¥ 18,000 (US$2,663) issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) pursuant to a license from American Express.
CN¥ 36,000 (US$5,325) issued by China Minsheng Bank (CMBC) and China Merchants Bank (CMB) pursuant to a license from American Express. [7]

Singapore
S$7,490 (US$5,428) (unlimited) plus one-time joining fee of S$7,490 (US$5,428)

Kuwait
US$4,000 for Titanium-based Centurion. Issued by American Express Middle East (Bahrain) (Same applies for Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar)

Mexico
Mex$56,000 (US$2,958)

Brazil
R$4,250 (US$1,332)

Argentina
AR$20,000 (US$1,208)

Saudi Arabia

ر.س
 11,250 (US$3,000) (unlimited)

International Dollar Currency Card (IDC)
US$4,000 plus one-time fee of US$4,000

International Euro Currency Card (IEC)
€4,000 (US$4,510) plus one-time fee of €4,000 (US$4,510)

Israel
US$2,043 (~₪8,000), where payments can be made either in ILS or in US$.

Russia
₽150,000 (US$2,571)

Taiwan
NT$160,000 (US$4,839) plus one-time fee of NT$160,000 (US$4,839) Note: minimum annual income (NT$3,500,000)[8]

Lebanon

ل.ل
 3,000 (US$3,000)

United Arab Emirates
DH 11,000 (US$3,000)

Sweden
kr 30,000 (US$3,509) plus one-time fee of (US$3,509)[9]

tag: table

text: Benefits[edit]

text: The card, available for personal and business use, offers services such as a dedicated concierge and travel agent; complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full-fare ticket; personal shoppers at retailers such as Dot & Vic's Rathon Station, Big Billy's Beef house Livingston, Gucci, Escada, and Saks Fifth Avenue; access to airport clubs; first-class flight upgrades; membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program and dozens of other elite club memberships.[3]

text: Hotel benefits include one free night, when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay, in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year[3] (except for the New York City property),[10] and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion Cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has amenities, including Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status.

text: The card also features complimentary enrollment in Easirent Car Hire Platinum Service and the Avis Rent a Car President's Club.[11]

text: Initially it came with an extensive travel insurance all year round no matter how the trip was paid for but since 2012 this insurance is limited to trips which are paid with the card only. (In Australia, the insurance covers all trips, even if paid with another method or frequent flyer miles).

text: The titanium-crafted "Centurion" card was first issued as an upgrade for all plastic U.S. "Centurion" cards in the first half of 2006, with the titanium version being rolled out to certain other countries as well.

text: Some Centurion customers have purchased automobiles using the card or made purchases exceeding €1 million (US$1.36 million).[citation needed] The card has no preset limit in theory. In practice the authorization is decided upon past payment and spending patterns; the largest purchase ever made on one was US$170 million for Amedeo Modigliani's "Nu couché" painting purchased at a Christie's auction house by Liu Yiqian.[12] It was suggested that the reason for funding the purchase through the credit card was to circumvent Chinese money laws that restrict the transfer of money by citizens out of the country to just $50,000.[13]

text: The benefits offered to Centurion cardmembers are vast, but they appear to be based on the benefits offered to American Express Platinum cardholders, but with many enhancements.[14]

text: Centurion Card members, like Platinum Card members, get complimentary access to the American Express Centurion Lounges at several US airports. They also get unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges around the world.[15] However, at busy times, Centurion members have access to areas reserved for them. There are also drink options at the bar that are exclusive to Centurion members. As of 2015, they have a Champagne option of Veuve Clicquot and a single malt scotch by Balvenie.[16]

text: Former benefits[edit]

text: Several original Centurion program benefits have been discontinued, including:

text:
Continental Airlines benefits, which ceased in October 2011
Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum elite benefits, downgraded to Gold (from January 2006, same as Platinum card)
Hyatt Diamond Elite benefits
American Airlines Admirals Club benefits, which ceased on March 21, 2014[17]

text: Publications[edit]

text:
Black Ink

Categories
Luxury magazine

Frequency
Seasonal

Publisher
American Express

Year founded
2004

text: Since the inception of the card, members have received a copy of Departures, which is also sent to all Platinum Card cardholders. In 2004, American Express Centurion members in the US began receiving an exclusive "no name" magazine, which was not available by any other means. Starting with the Spring 2007 edition, this magazine was officially titled Black Ink. The magazine is available only to individual Centurion cardholders, not to the business-edition customers.

text: European, Asian, and Australian Centurion members receive quarterly the Centurion magazine published by Journal International GmbH (Munich, Germany).[18] In June 2011, the Centurion magazine website was launched, offering daily updates for Centurion Card members. According to Journal International, the average age of a Centurion reader from Europe or the Middle East is 49 years. Centurion has been published since 2001 and has a circulation in Europe and the Middle East of 44,100, in Asia of 13,900, and in Australia of 6,000.[2]

text: Elite cards[edit]

text: The Centurion Card is part of an elite credit card segment created for a very small and exclusive range of clients around the world.[3] Other such cards include:

text: Palladium Card

text: AmEx Black Card vs. Black Card[edit]

text: Black Card LLC successfully registered "Black Card" as a U.S. trademark in 2009. However, American Express contended its Centurion Card was widely known as "the Black Card" before the launch of the Black Card (then Visa card), despite never seeking to trademark that name itself. American Express filed suit against Black Card LLC in February 2010, claiming that the trademark was obtained improperly and sought injunctive relief.[19] This suit was concluded in November 2011, with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruling that Black Card, LLC's trademark of the name "Black Card" should be canceled on grounds that it was merely descriptive.[20] (See also American Express Marketing and Development Corp, et al. v. Black Card, LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133151 (S.D.N.Y. November 17, 2011.)

text: Today, Black Card LLC uses the registered trademark under license as a MasterCard issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.[21] It has similar features, such as the members-only Luxury Magazine in print and digital form.[21][22]


document_title: Cabo San Lucas

question_text: what bodies of water surround cabo san lucas

text: Cabo San Lucas

text: History[edit]

text: Archaeological excavations have shown evidence of continual human habitation in the area for at least 10,000 years.[5] When the first Europeans arrived, they encountered the Pericú people, who survived on a subsistence diet based on hunting and gathering seeds, roots, shellfish, and other marine resources. They called the location Yenecamú.

text: According to the narrative of Hatsutaro, a Japanese castaway, in the book Kaigai Ibun (written by Maekawa, Junzo and Bunzo Sakai and narrated by Hatsutaro), when he arrived at Cabo San Lucas in May 1842, there were only two houses and about 20 inhabitants. However, American authors such as Henry Edwards and John Ross Browne claim that Cabo San Lucas's founder was an Englishman named Thomas "Old Tom" Ritchie. John Ross Browne says Ritchie arrived there about 1828, while Edwards says that he died in October 1874.[6]

text: A fishing village began growing in the area. In 1917, an American company built a floating platform to catch tuna, and ten years later founded Compañía de Productos Marinos S.A. The plant operated for several years.[citation needed]

text: Tourism[edit]

text: Cabo San Lucas has become a prominent vacation and spa destination, with a variety of sites of interest and timeshares that have been built on the coast between San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The distinctive Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a local landmark.

text: Cabo San Lucas has the highest paying marlin tournament in the world called the "Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore". This tournament takes place every year in the month of October.[7]

text: In the winter, pods of whales can be observed in the area. They bear their calves in the warm waters of the Gulf of California after completing their 6000-mile migration from Alaska and Siberia.

text: Development[edit]

text: The beaches, surfing, and sport fishing opportunities in Cabo San Lucas have attracted a great number of Mexican natives and foreigners to spend their vacations in large-scale tourist developments there. The development of Cabo's tourism industry was prompted by the Mexican government's development of infrastructure to turn Cabo San Lucas into a major center for tourism in Mexico, beginning in 1974. Upon completion of the Transpeninsular Highway, also known as the Mexican Federal Highway 1, tourist developments in Los Cabos proceeded relatively unchecked.

text: Until fairly recently,[when?] the unique and fragile environment of this part of Mexico was largely unprotected by law, and therefore was subjected to developers acting in concert with government agencies interested only in low-end tourist bonanzas. There is, however, a growing collection of activists and attorneys now involved in preserving many of Baja's desert habitats, marine mammals, and stretches of coastline. A number of agencies including the Gulf of California Conservation Fund[8] and the Center for Environmental Law in La Paz[9] are challenging the destruction of wetlands and other ecosystems from Los Cabos to Ensenada. In the face of a growing international public demand for corporate-driven ecological stewardship, higher-end resorts in the Los Cabos area are increasingly sensitive to their environmental impact, and are taking initial steps to institute sustainable practices such as reducing water usage and non-recyclable trash output.[10] In 2017 Los Cabos is projected to be one of the leaders in travel in Latin America, many of the developments owed to its increased accessibility with added plane routes from the US and Canada. It is expected that by 2018 4,000 new sleeping rooms will come online in Cabo, and the increase in tourism will contribute to its growth as a leader in leisure.[11]

text: Transportation[edit]

text: Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are served by Los Cabos International Airport.

text: The town is also a popular port of call for many cruise ships. Cabo San Lucas has a small international airfield, which handles air traffic for general aviation flights and air taxi service.

text: Many tourists get around the area through the numerous local taxis that service the primary parts of Cabo, as well as the Corridor and the airport. Alternatively, there is a system of small buses that are used by locals but also available to tourists, and costing a few pesos tend to be much less expensive than the taxis. [12]

text: Nightlife and activities[edit]

text: Clubs in Cabo include the Cabo Wabo Cantina, the Baja Brewing Company (also the first microbrewery in Baja California), Pink Kitty Nightclub, Mandala, El Squid Roe, Giggling Marlin, Nowhere Bar, Tiki Bar, the Usual Suspects and the Jungle Bar. Restaurants in downtown Cabo include Edith's, Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, and Sunset da Mona Lisa. Tourists can also ride horses through the desert, charter a boat for fishing, snorkel, and parasail on the beach. The English-language newspaper for Cabo San Lucas, the biweekly "Gringo Gazette", has news on tourist activities in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose, Todos Santos, La Paz, and the East Cape Baja.[13]

text: Resort corridor[edit]

text: The corridor is home to a variety of hotels and tourist attractions. High-end resorts in the corridor include the One&Only Palmilla, Esperanza, The Resort at Pedregal, and Las Ventanas al Paraiso.

text: Medano Beach, located in the Chileno Bay, is one of the most frequented beaches in the Corridor. It is home to tropical fish, sea turtles, invertebrates, and sponges. Snorkelers often visit Chileno Bay to observe the underwater sea life.

text: Climate[edit]

text: Cabo San Lucas has a BWh desert climate.

text: During summer, Cabo San Lucas is cooler than San José del Cabo by about by about 1.5 to 3 °C (3 to 5 °F). Sometimes during the summer, when winds blow from the Pacific Ocean instead of the Gulf of California, the differences in temperatures between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are higher.

text: Cabo San Lucas is less rainy than San José del Cabo, although hurricanes can bring heavy rain for long periods. Hurricane Odile made landfall at Cabo San Lucas on 14 September 2014, and caused widespread damage.[14] Due to the position of the city and orography, local summer thunderstorms do not get near enough to bring rain to the town.

text: The sea temperature experiences lows of 21–22 °C (70–72 °F) in winter, and highs of 28–29 °C (82–84 °F) during the summer months.[15]

text:
[hide]Climate data for Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (1951–2010, extremes 1937–2010)

Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year

Record high °C (°F)
36.0
(96.8)
37.0
(98.6)
37.0
(98.6)
41.0
(105.8)
40.0
(104)
41.5
(106.7)
41.0
(105.8)
44.0
(111.2)
44.0
(111.2)
41.0
(105.8)
38.0
(100.4)
37.0
(98.6)
44.0
(111.2)

Average high °C (°F)
25.4
(77.7)
25.9
(78.6)
26.9
(80.4)
29.0
(84.2)
30.7
(87.3)
31.7
(89.1)
33.3
(91.9)
33.7
(92.7)
33.0
(91.4)
32.1
(89.8)
29.4
(84.9)
26.8
(80.2)
29.8
(85.6)

Daily mean °C (°F)
19.2
(66.6)
19.3
(66.7)
20.2
(68.4)
22.2
(72)
23.8
(74.8)
25.3
(77.5)
28.1
(82.6)
29.0
(84.2)
28.4
(83.1)
26.7
(80.1)
23.5
(74.3)
20.6
(69.1)
23.9
(75)

Average low °C (°F)
13.0
(55.4)
12.7
(54.9)
13.5
(56.3)
15.4
(59.7)
17.0
(62.6)
19.0
(66.2)
22.8
(73)
24.2
(75.6)
23.9
(75)
21.4
(70.5)
17.5
(63.5)
14.5
(58.1)
17.9
(64.2)

Record low °C (°F)
4.5
(40.1)
1.5
(34.7)
1.0
(33.8)
7.0
(44.6)
6.5
(43.7)
10.0
(50)
10.0
(50)
10.0
(50)
10.0
(50)
10.0
(50)
1.0
(33.8)
5.0
(41)
1.0
(33.8)

Average precipitation mm (inches)
11.7
(0.461)
3.4
(0.134)
1.8
(0.071)
1.3
(0.051)
0.1
(0.004)
0.0
(0)
13.3
(0.524)
48.5
(1.909)
82.3
(3.24)
32.2
(1.268)
11.5
(0.453)
14.5
(0.571)
220.6
(8.685)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)
1.2
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.0
1.1
2.9
3.3
1.6
0.7
1.0
12.7

Source: Servicio Meteorologico Nacional[16][17]

text:
Average Sea Temperature

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

22.4 °C
72.4 °F

21.5 °C
70.7 °F

21.5 °C
70.6 °F

21.5 °C
70.7 °F

23.5 °C
74.3 °F

23.1 °C
73.5 °F

25.7 °C
78.2 °F

28.5 °C
83.2 °F

29.5 °C
85 °F

29 °C
84.1 °F

26.8 °C
80.2 °F

24 °C
75.3 °F

text: Population[edit]

text:
Historical population

Year
Pop.
±%

1990
16,059
—

1995
28,483
+77.4%

2000

—

2005

—

2010
68,464
—

[18]

text: As of the 2010 Censo General de Población y Vivienda, the population was 68,463 and has experienced very rapid growth and development.[3] It is the third-largest city in Baja California Sur after La Paz and San José del Cabo (although it is only slightly less populous than San José del Cabo).

text: The majority of non-Mexican inhabitants in the community originate from the United States, and along with residents from San José del Cabo they account for the 80% of the U.S. population in the state.[19]

text: Education[edit]

text:
Colegio Amaranto, a private school, is in Cabo San Lucas
Colegio El Camino, IB accredited K-12 private school, in Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas

text:
Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Los Cabos, a campus of the National Institute of Technology of Mexico
UABCS Los Cabos, a branch campus of the public Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur
Universidad del Golfo de California, a private masters level university
Universidad del Desarrollo Profesional S.C., a local campus of UNIDEP, a private university


document_title: Smoking age

question_text: how old do you have to be to buy tobacco in washington

text: Smoking age

text: Smoking age laws by region[edit]

text: Africa[edit]

text:
Country
De jure
Notes

Smoking age
Purchase age

 Algeria
None
19
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors under the age of 19 years.
(Chapitre IV sur les problèmes de santé l'article 93: "la vente de tabac ou produits du tabac aux mineurs est interdite".)[1]

 Angola
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors under the age of 18.[2]

 Benin
None
18
[3]

 Botswana
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors under the age of 18 Any person who sells, by retail, any tobacco product, shall display clearly, for the public, a notice to the effect that the sale of any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years is prohibited.[4]

 Burkina Faso
None
18
[5]

 Burundi
None
18
It is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. Other tobacco products are not regulated.[6]

 Cameroon
15

 Cape Verde
15

 Central African Republic
14

 Chad
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. Minors and pregnant women may not smoke in public.[7]

 Comoros
None
18
The sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited. Vendors of tobacco products must visibly and prominently display at their point of sale a notice of prohibition of the sale of tobacco to minors and by minors.[8]

 Republic of the Congo
18
[9]

 Democratic Republic of the Congo
18
It is illegal for minors to smoke in public, and for anyone to give or sell tobacco to a minor.
(ARRETE MINISTERIEL N°1250 Article 1: L'usage, la vente, l'achat et la consommation du tabac, de ses produits et de ses dérivés sont strictement interdits aux mineurs.)[10]

 Djibouti
None
16
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor under the age of 16 years. A notice with the sale restrictions has to be placed at point of sale.[11]

 Egypt
18
A person must be eighteen years or over to legally purchase and consume tobacco products in Egypt. The smoking age however isn't strictly enforced, and IDs are barely requested.

 Equatorial Guinea
18
[12]

 Eritrea
None
18
[13]

 Ethiopia
None
18
("No person may directly or indirectly give, provide or sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18.")[14]

 Gabon
None
18
[15]

 Gambia
None

 Ghana
18
[16]

 Guinea-Bissau
15

 Kenya
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. There is no minimum age to possess tobacco or smoke in public.[17]

 Lesotho
14

 Liberia
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor. Minors may not consume tobacco at any public place.[18]

 Libya
None
18
It is strictly prohibited to sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years.[19]

 Madagascar
None
18
[20]

 Malawi
14

 Mali
None
18
[21]

 Mauritius
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)).

 Morocco
16

 Mozambique
None
18
[22]

 Namibia
None
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor.[23]
No minimum age prior to April 14th 2010.

 Niger
None
18 (to enter smoking room or facility)
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor. Minors may not enter any smoking room or facility where smoking is permitted by law.[24]
No minimum age prior to July 17th 2008.

 Nigeria
None
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco products to a minor.[25]

 Republic of the Congo
14

 Rwanda
None
18
It is prohibited to involve a person under 18 in, buying, selling and exchanging of tobacco and tobacco products. It is also prohibited for the seller to sell tobacco and tobacco products to a person under 18.[26]

 São Tomé and Príncipe
None
16
[27]

 Senegal
None
18
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. (Chapitre III.- Accès aux produits du tabac: Article 17 Il est interdit de vendre ou d'offrir aux mineurs ou de faire vendre ou de faire offrir par les mineurs du tabac ou tout produit du tabac.)[28]

 Seychelles
18
[29]

 Somalia
15

 South Africa
18
It is illegal to sell or supply any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18.[30]

 South Sudan
15

 Swaziland
None
18
It is illegal to sell and give tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[31]

 Sudan
None
18 (to enter smoking room or facility)
18
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a minor. Anyone under the age of 18 may also not handle, store, work or produce with tobacco or within such a facility.[32]

 Tanzania
18
It is unlawful to sell or give tobacco products to a minor, and to smoke such tobacco products if the individual is younger than 18 years.[33]

 Togo
None
18
It is illegal to sell or give any tobacco product to a minor.[34]

 Tunisia
None
18
[35]

 Uganda
None
21
It is now illegal for a person below the age of 21 to access cigarettes[36]

 Zambia
None
16
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 16 years. No minimum age for consumption and possession in public.
No minimum age prior to January 1st 1993.[37]

 Zimbabwe
None
18
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. Minors may not sell tobacco.[38]

text: Americas[edit]

text:
Country
De jure
Notes

Smoking age
Purchase age

 Antigua and Barbuda
None
Antigua and Barbuda don't have any restrictions towards selling tobacco to minors or smoking in general.[39]

 Argentina
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors.[40]

 Bahamas
None
18
[41]

 Belize
None

 Bermuda
None
18
No person shall sell or supply any cigarettes, tobacco or tobacco products to a minor. A person selling or supplying any cigarettes, tobacco or tobacco products to a person who appears to be under 25 years of age shall, before selling or supplying them, ensure, by requiring photo identification, that the latter person is not a minor.[42]

 Bolivia
None
18
The sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited.[43]

 Brazil
18[44]
18
It is illegal to "sell Products whose ingredients can cause physical or psychic dependence, even if only through improper use" (…). This also includes tobacco products of any kind.[45]

 British Virgin Islands
None
18
It is illegal to sell or offer to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to purchase, possess or consume tobacco.[46]

 Canada

Regulations by province and territory:

Province/territory
Smoking age
Purchase age
Notes

Federal Government
None
18[47]
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor under the age of 18.
The minimum age was 16 years of prior to 1994.[48]

 Alberta
18[49]
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor under the age of 18. Further, minors are not permitted to smoke at any public place.

 British Columbia
None
19[50]

 Manitoba
None
18[51]
It is illegal to sell, give, buy for, lend or otherwise provide tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Parents can provide tobacco products to their children on private property. Further it is legal to supply tobacco to a minor if it is solely for use in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies.

 New Brunswick
None
19[52]
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. It is also illegal to attempt to purchase tobacco on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale to, a person under the age of 19 years.

 Newfoundland and Labrador
None
19[53]
It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, directly or indirectly, tobacco to a person under the age of 19 years.

 Northwest Territories
None
18[54]
No person shall sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, tobacco or a tobacco accessory to a person under the age of 18. No one under the age of 18 years shall purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco or a tobacco accessory.

 Nova Scotia
19[55]
19[56]
No vendor or employee of a vendor shall sell or give tobacco or a tobacco product to a person under the age of nineteen years. No person shall purchase tobacco or a tobacco product on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale or give tobacco or a tobacco product, to a person under the age of nineteen years. No person under the age of nineteen years may possess tobacco.

 Nunavut
None
19[57]
No person shall sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old.

 Ontario
None
19[58]
No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old. No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person who appears to be less than 25 years old unless he or she has required the person to provide identification and is satisfied that the person is at least 19 years old.

 Prince Edward Island
None
19[59]
No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person under the age of 19 years. No person shall purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale to, a person under the age of 19 years. It is legal to supply tobacco to a minor if it is solely for use in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies.

 Quebec
None
18[60]
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. The operator of a tobacco retail outlet may not give tobacco to a minor. The operator of a tobacco retail outlet may not sell tobacco to an adult, if the operator knows the person is purchasing the tobacco for a minor.

 Saskatchewan
None
18[61]
It is illegal to sell, lend, assign, give or send tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.

 Yukon
18 (federal law)
The territory Yukon has no legislations which restrict the sale of tobacco products to minors. Federal laws apply.

 Chile
None
18
It is illegal to sell any form of tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[62]

 Colombia
None
18
It is forbidden for any individual or legal entity to directly or indirectly sell tobacco products and its derivatives in any of its presentations to minors under the age of 18 years. In case of question, one must ask each tobacco purchaser to show that he has reached majority age.[63]

 Costa Rica
None
18
Tobacco products may not be sold to minors. Wholesale or retail vendors of products shall have the obligation, at their own expense, to display posters that are visible, clear and prominently placed on the inside of places of sale, stating that the sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.[64]

 Cuba
None
18
[65]

 Cayman Islands
None
18
(Tobacco Law, 2007 PART V – Section 10: No person shall sell tobacco to a minor.) [66]

 Dominican Republic
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[67]

 Ecuador
None
18
It is illegal to sell or let sell tobacco to or by a minor.[68]

 El Salvador
None
18
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a minor.[69]

 Falkland Islands
None

 Guatemala
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Public consumption of tobacco by minors is prohibited. (El decreto 90-97, Código de Salud, indica en su artículo 50)[70]

 Guyana
None
18
No tobacco may be sold or furnished to a minor.[71]

 Haiti
None
18

 Honduras
None
21
The sale and/or gifting of tobaccoderived products to persons under 21 years of age is prohibited.[72]

 Jamaica
None
18
[73]

 Mexico
None
18
[74]

 Nicaragua
None
18
[75]

 Panama
None
18
The sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.[76]

 Paraguay
None
18
It is unlawful to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[77]

 Peru
18
The sale of tobacco products to/by minors under the age of 18 is prohibited.[78]

 Trinidad and Tobago
None
18
Tobacco shall not be sold to or by a child under the age of 18 years.[79]

 United States
(50 states and integral territories)
The federal law requires states to have a minimum age of 18 years for sale/purchase of tobacco products (21 U.S.C. § 387f. (3)(a)(ii)). State laws may extend this ban and also prohibit supply, possession and consumption to/by person underage. But most of the states do not directly ban the consumption of tobacco by a minor. The federal law requiring states to have a minimum purchasing age at 18 is enforced by withholding FEMA disaster and non-disaster grants from states that have purchasing ages under 18, and currently no state falls under that category.

Regulations by state:

State/territory
Smoking age
Purchase age
Notes

 Alabama
19[80]
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. Minors are prohibited from using and possessing tobacco products.
The minimum age was introduced in 1896.[81]

 Alaska
None
19[82]
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. Possession by minors is prohibited. The minimum age requirement does not apply to a person who is a prisoner at an adult correctional facility.[83]
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1978.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 19 in 1988.[81]

 American Samoa
18

 Arizona
None
18[84]
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products or smoking equipment to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for a minor to be in possession of tobacco or smoking equipment, or to receive them.

None
21[85][86]
Cottonwood and Douglas have raised their tobacco age to 21

 Arkansas
18[87]
It is illegal to give or sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco products and to smoke in public.

 California
18[88]
21[89]
As of June 9, 2016, it is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age, with an exception for people in active military service who are 18 years old.
Before June 9, the age to purchase tobacco was 18 years of age. Amended after the 2016 election it is legal for persons age 18 and older to buy tobacco products with no filter. (Cigars, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc.)

 Colorado
18[90]
It is illegal to sell, give or distribute tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors under the age of 18 years are prohibited from being in possession of any tobacco product.

 Connecticut
None
18[91]
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under 18. It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public.
A minimum age of 16 was introduced in 1902.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987.[81]

 Delaware
None
18[92]
Selling, giving or otherwhise distributing tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal. Minors under the age of 18 years are not allowed to attempt to purchase tobacco or to be in the possession of tobacco products.
The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1953.
The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1992.[81][93]

 Florida
None
18[94]
The Florida Statutes make it a criminal offence so sell or supply tobacco to an individual under the age of 18 years. Minors may also not be in possession of tobacco products.

 Georgia
None
18[95]
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public. Minors are allowed to possess tobacco products and to consume those, in private home if permission is given by parents or legal guardian.
The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1987.
The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1993.[81][93]

 Guam
18
The minimum age will be raised from 18 to 21, as of January 1, 2018.[96]

 Hawaii
21[97][98]
It is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age. It is also illegal for a person under 21 years of age to attempt to purchase tobacco.
The minimum age of 15 years was introduced on November 11, 1890.[99]
The minimum age was raised from 15 to 18 on January 1, 1988.[100]
The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21 on January 1, 2016.[101]

 Idaho
18[102][103]

 Illinois
None
18[104][105]

None
21[106][107]
The cities of Chicago and Evanston have a tobacco sales age of 21

 Indiana
None
18[108]
Giving, selling, providing and distributing tobacco to minors is illegal. Minors may not possess, accept or purchase tobacco. Minors are not allowed to enter a tobacco business, defined in state law as a business whose primary activity is the sale of tobacco products and accessories.
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1980.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987.[81]

 Iowa
18[109]
It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco, to smoke in public or to purchase tobacco products. It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.

 Kansas
None
18[110]
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor. Minors may not possess or purchase or attempt to possess or purchase tobacco.

None
21[111]
Eight cities in Kansas have raised their tobacco age to 21

 Kentucky
None
18[112]
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase or possess tobacco products. Prior to 1990 Kentucky had no minimum age to purchase tobacco. From 1990 until 1992 the minimum age was 16 years.
In 1992 the age was raised from 16 to 18 years of age. [93]

 Louisiana
None
18[113]
It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor. A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older.
Prior to 1991 there was no minim age limit in Louisiana.

 Maine
18[114]
It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor. A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older. Raised to 21 in 2017.

 Maryland
None
18[115][116]
Minimum age raised from 16 to 18 in 1989. [93]

 Massachusetts
None
18[117]
It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors. Anyone else than the parents or guardian are prohibited from giving any form of tobacco to a minor.

None
21[118]
Over 100 cities in Massachusetts, including Boston, have age to 21 years.

 Michigan
18[119]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Minors are permitted to smoke on private premises.

 Minnesota
18[120]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Indian may furnish tobacco to an Indian under the age of 18 years if the tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual or cultural ceremony.

 Mississippi
18[121]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

None
21[122]
Adams County has raised their tobacco age to 21

 Missouri
None
18[123]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. It is not illegal to give tobacco to minors on private premises nor is it illegal for minors to smoke in public.
Prior to 1992 Missouri did not have a minimum age limit.[93]

None
21[124]
Twelve cities in Missouri, including Kansas City, St, Louis and Jefferson City, have raised their tobacco age to 21

 Montana
None
18[125]
Sale or distribution of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited, whether over the counter, by vending machine, or otherwise.
Prior to 1993 there was no minimum age limit.[93]

 Nebraska
18[126][127]
It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, in any way tobacco to a minor. Minors may not smoke in public.

 Nevada
None
18[128]

 New Hampshire
18[129]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 New Jersey
None
21[130]
No person shall sell, give or furnish to a person under 19 years of age, any cigarettes made of tobacco.
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1904.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988.
The minimum age was raised from 18 to 19 in 2005.
The minimum age was raised from 19 to 21 on July 21, 2017, but doesn't take effect until November 1, 2017.[81]

None
21[131]
15 cities in New Jersey tobacco age to 21 years.

 New Mexico
None
18[132]
Prior to 1991 New Mexico had no minimum age.

 New York
None
18[133]
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.

None
21[134]
18 (Smoking supplies under federal/state law)
New York City bans all tobacco and e-cigarette sales to anyone under the age of 21.
Prior to May 18, 2014 the minimum age was 18 (by state law).

None
21[135]
Suffolk County bans all herbal cigarettes, rolling papers and pipes sales to anyone under the age of 21.

None
19
18 (Military)[136]
Onondaga County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19.

None
19[137]
Nassau County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19.

 North Carolina
None
18[138]
It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to buy, attempt to buy, to receive, or to use a false or misleading proof of age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product or cigarette wrapping papers.
The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1891.
The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991.[81][93]

  North Dakota
18[139]

 Northern Mariana Islands
18
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.

 Ohio
18[140]

None
21[141]
Five cities in Ohio, including Cleveland, have raised their tobacco age to 21

 Oklahoma
None
18[142]
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.
The minimum age of 18 years was introduced in 1915.

 Oregon
None
21[143]
Starting January 1, 2018 it will be illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years.

 Pennsylvania
None
18[144]
It is illegal to sell, furnish, give or otherwise provide tobacco to a minor. Minors may not purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco products.
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1972.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990.[81][93]

 Puerto Rico
None
18

 Rhode Island
18[145][146]
No person under eighteen years of age shall purchase, nor shall any person sell, give, or deliver to any person under eighteen years of age, any tobacco products. No person under eighteen years of age shall use or possess, tobacco in any public street, place, or resort, any tobacco and/or electronic nicotine delivery system in any form.
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1896.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988.[81]

 South Carolina
None
18[147]
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or attempt to possess a tobacco product, or present or offer proof of age that is false or fraudulent for the purpose of purchasing or possessing a tobacco product.

 South Dakota
None
18
Prior to 1989 South Dakota didn't regulate the sale of cigarettes to minors. Only smokeless tobacco products could not be sold to minors.

 Tennessee
None
18[148]
It is unlawful for a person who has not attained 18 years of age to possess a tobacco product, to purchase or accept receipt of a tobacco product, or to present or offer to any person any purported proof of age which is false, fraudulent, or not actually that person's own for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product.

 Texas
18[149]
It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Exception: The individual younger than 18 years of age possessed the cigarette or tobacco product in the presence of an adult parent, a guardian, or a spouse of the individual or an employer of the individual, if possession or receipt of the tobacco product is required in the performance of the employee's duties as an employee.
The minimum age to purchase, possess and consume tobacco was 16 years of age from 1899 to 1989.[93]

 United States Virgin Islands
None
18
[150]

 Utah
19[151]
It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products or smoking devices to anyone under the age of 19 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 years to possess, consume, purchase any tobacco product.

 Vermont
None
18[152]
It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products.
The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1888.
The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991.[81][93]

 Virginia
18[153]
It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products.
Prior to 1991 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age.[93]

 Washington
None
18[154]
It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 Washington, D.C.
None
18[155]
It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public.
The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1891.
The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990.[81][93]

 West Virginia
18[156]
It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products.

 Wisconsin
None
18[157]
It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 Wyoming
18[158]
It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products.
Prior to 1991 Wyoming had no minimum purchase/sale age for tobacco products.[93]

 Uruguay
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. A clearly legible notice with the sale ban to under anyone under the age of 18 years has to be placed inside and outside the premises.[159]

 Venezuela
None
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor.[160]

text: Asia[edit]

text:
Country
De jure
Notes

Smoking age
Purchase age

 Afghanistan
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal to smoke or the use of tobacco in public buildings such as hospitals, schools and restaurants.[161]

 Bhutan
Illegal
In 2004, Bhutan became the first country to ban the sale, cultivation, and production of tobacco. People 18 and over may bring a limited amount of tobacco into Bhutan if they pay import duties.

 Brunei
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to possess, buy or consume tobacco products.[162]

 Bangladesh
16
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 16 years. Any police-officer in uniform or any other person or class of persons duty authorized by the Government has the power to seize and destroy tobacco products of anyone under the age of 16 years whom he finds smoking in public.[163]

 Cambodia
None
18
Any act of selling or distributing all types of tobacco products to persons aged under 18 years or to pregnant women whose pregnancy is obvious or is realized must be punished with six days to one month in prison and a fine of 100,000 riel to 1 million riel.[164]

 China
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. No one shall smoke on school or education premises. Weakly enforced to not enforced.
No age limit prior to December 29th 2006.[165]

 Hong Kong
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[166]

 India
None
18
It is illegal to sell cigarettes or any other tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years. It is illegal to sell tobacco within a radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution.[167]

 Indonesia
None
18
It is illegal to sell an supply tobacco products to pregnant women anyone under the age of 18 years.[168]

 Iran
None
18
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation will result in confiscation of tobacco from the minor and a fine for the salesperson.[169]

 Iraq
14

 Israel
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.
No minimum age prior to November 12th 2004.[170]

 Jordan
None
18 (Consumption of water pipes on premises)
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. It is also illegal to provide water pipes in cafes, restaurants and similar places.[171]

 Japan
20
Supplying tobacco to persons under 20 is punishable by a ¥10,000 fine.[172]

 Kazakhstan
None
18
[173]

 Kuwait
None
21
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 years.[174]

 Kyrgyzstan
None
18
No minor shall sell or be sold tobacco products.[175]

 Lebanon
18
18
It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor.[176]

 Macau
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for a minor to smoke or to obtain tobacco from a person of the legal age.[177]

 Malaysia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.[178]

 Maldives
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. The retailer must ensure that the buyer is at least 18 years of age. Furthermore, a clearly legible notice has to be displayed at point of sale stating that tobacco sales to minors are illegal.[179]

 Mongolia
15

   Nepal
None
18
It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco products to minors and pregnant women.[180]

 North Korea
None
17
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.[181] (The tobacco law does not define the word "minor", but age of majority is reached at the age of 17 years).

 Oman
15

 Pakistan
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. A clearly legible notice with the sale restriction has to be placed at point of sale.[182]

 Palestine
14

 Philippines
18
Only people over 18 may buy cigarettes and tobacco due to the "STOP for Health Act". (Stop Tobacco and Other Products for Health)[183]

 Qatar
None
18
It is illegal to sell cigarettes or any other tobacco to a person unter the age of 18 years.[184]

 Saudi Arabia
18

 Singapore
18 (Present); will be raised to 21
It is illegal to sell or give, directly or indirectly any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years. No minor is allowed to consume or to possess any tobacco product in public.[185]

 South Korea
None
19
[186]

 Sri Lanka
None
21
It is illegal to sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 21 years.[187]

 Syria
None
18
It is unlawful to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[188]

 Taiwan
18
It is illegal to sell or provide tobacco to a pregnant women and anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for a pregnant women or a child to smoke.[189]

 Tajikistan
14

 Thailand
None
18
[190]

 Turkmenistan
Illegal
In January 2016, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedow reportedly banned tobacco sales in Turkmenistan.[191]

 United Arab Emirates
18

 Vietnam
18
It is illegal for people less than 18 years of age use, buy, and sell tobacco products. It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco product to people less than 18 years of age.[192]

 Yemen
14

text: Europe[edit]

text:
Country
De jure
Notes

Smoking age
Purchase age

 Albania
None
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 years.[193]

 Armenia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors may not sell tobacco products.[194]
No minimum age prior to December 24th 2004.

 Austria
16
The minimum age is regulated by each federal state, but is nationwide 16 years. It is illegal in every state to sell or give tobacco products to a person under the age of 16 years as well as the consumption by a person under the age of 16 years in any public place.[195]

 Azerbaijan
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. The packaging of tobacco products must contain a warning that sale to minors is prohibited.[196]
No minimum age prior to January 1st 2002.

 Belarus
None
18
(Decree No. 28 of 2002 Section 32. "It is banned to sell tobacco products to citizens (by citizens) of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and individuals with no citizenship under 18 years old.")[197]

 Belgium
None
16
("Il est interdit de vendre des produits de tabac aux jeunes de moins de 16 ans et la publicité pour les produits de tabac est interdite.")[198]

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
18
It is illegal to sell and gift tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors under the age of 18 years to gift, sell and consume tobacco products.[199]
The minimum age was 15 years prior to September 28th 2004.
No minimum age prior to March 9th 1998.[200]

 Bulgaria
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[201]

 Croatia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. It is the responsibility of any salesperson to ensure that no tobacco is sold to minors and therefore to request an ID to make sure that the purchaser is at least 18 years of age. Minors may not sell tobacco products.[202]

 Cyprus
None
18
It is illegal to sell or otherwise provide tobacco products to a minor.
"(…)any person who provides a tobacco product to a minor is guilty of offense and in any case of his/her conviction, he/she shall be subject to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds or to incarceration not exceeding six months and/or to both penalties."[203]

 Czech Republic
None
18
Selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 is prohibited. Sale of tobacco products and tobacco through vending machines is permitted if the tobacco purchase age is not violated. The seller shall place a clearly visible notice displaying the sale restrictions of tobacco to person under the age of 18. A person selling tobacco must be 18 years or older, unless the minor is preparing for a future career in the hotel or tourism industry, as a cook-waiter or salesman. However, it is very easy to get tobacco products for minors as many sellers don't check the age.[204]
The minimum age was 16 years prior to September 2nd 1999.[205]

 Denmark
None
18
The minimum age was 16 years prior to September 1st 2008.[206]

 Estonia
18
The minimum age to purchase tobacco products or to smoke in public is set at 18. Minors may not be in possession of, or handle tobacco products.[207]

 Finland
18
Prior to October 2010 it was not illegal for minors to smoke in public.
The minimum age was 16 years prior to March 1st 1995.[208]

 France
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors under the age of 18 years may not smoke in any school or on school property.[209] Vending machines outside a tobacco shop is prohibited.
Prior to 21 July 2009 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age.

 Georgia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors under the age of 18.[210]

 Germany
18
The Protection of Young Persons Act states that children and young people under 18 years of age shall not be sold tobacco pruducts nor should they be permitted to smoke in public. This does not apply to married adolescents.[211]
Minimum age was 18 from June 10th 1943 until January 1st 1952.[212]
Minimum age was 16 from January 1st 1952 to September 1st 2007.[213]

 Gibraltar
18
It is illegal to sell and furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Any police officer may confiscate tobacco from a minor in public.[214]
The minimum age was 16 years prior to July 7th 2006.[215]

 Greece
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors.[216]

 Hungary
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. It is illegal to smoke under the age of 18. The sale of tobacco is prohibited within 200 m of schools and health care units.

 Iceland
None
18
It is illegal to sell or deliver tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors may not handle or sell tobacco products.[217]
No minimum age prior to January 1st 1985.
The minimum age was 16 years from January 1st 1985 to October 1st 1996.[218]

 Ireland
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.[219]
The minimum age was 16 years prior to March 27th 2002.[220]

 Italy
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation is punished with a fine between €250.00 and €1000.00. If the law is violated more than once the fine is increased to €500.00 and €2,000.00 and a revocation of the tobacco license for at least 3 months.[221][222]

Minimum age for electronic cigarettes was 16 prior to May 1st 2013.[223]

 Kosovo*
None
[224]

 Latvia
None
18
The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited.[225]

 Liechtenstein
16
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to possess or consume tobacco products.[226]

 Lithuania
18
No minimum age to smoke prior to May 1st 2015.

 Luxembourg
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[227][228]
No minimum age prior to January 1st 2006.
Minimum purchase age increased from 16 to 18 on 1 August 2017.

 Macedonia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[229]

 Malta
None
18
"No person shall sell, supply or distribute by way of compensation or otherwise, any cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, tobacco products or smoking requisites to any person who is under the age of 18 years, or in any manner induce such person to smoke."[230]

 Moldova
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[231]

 Montenegro
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. A poster with the sale restrictions must be placed at point of sale.[232]

 Netherlands
None
18
The sale of tobacco to persons under 18 is illegal.[233] 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 supermarket and at other stores.

 Norway
None
18
(No age limit for use of tobacco but no sales of cigarettes or Swedish snus to people under 18 by law.[234] Vending machines are only allowed when they are cited inside an approved store, with a demand of buying a receipt from the cashier first.[234] 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
None
18
Minors are not allowed to buy tobacco products.[235]

 Portugal
18
It is illegal to sell or give any tobacco product to a minor as well as the consumption of a tobacco product in any public place by a minor. There is a proposition to ban vending machines in places accessible to people younger than 18.[236]
Minimum age was 16 prior to January 1st 2008.

 Romania
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.

 Russia
None
18
Retail sales of tobacco products to any person under the age of 18 years are an offence.[237]

 Serbia
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
None
18
Tobacco sales to under 18 year olds are prohibited.[238]

 Slovenia
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. ID-Card or passport has to be shown if requested.[239]

 Spain
None
18
It is illegal to sell any tobacco product or other smoking substances (e.g. electronic cigarettes) to a person under the age of 18 years.[240]
Minimum age was 16 in most regions prior to January 1st 2006.

 Sweden
None
18
It is illegal to sell or commercially distribute tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[241]
No minimum age prior to January 1st 1997.

  Switzerland

Regulations by canton:

States/territories
Smoking age
Purchase age
Notes

 Aargau
None
16
It is an offence to sell or supply (except for Parents) any tobacco product to a person under 16 years of age.[242]

 Appenzell Ausserrhoden
None
16
It is an offence to sell or supply any tobacco product to a person under 16 years of age.[243]

 Appenzell Innerrhoden
None
No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[244]

 Basel-Landschaft
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[245]

 Basel-Stadt
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[246]

 Bern
None
18 (to enter smoking facility or premises)
18
Selling or giving any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[247]

 Fribourg
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[248]

 Geneva
None
No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[244]

 Glarus
None
16
Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[249]

 Graubünden
None
16
[250]

 Jura
None
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor.[251]

 Luzern
None
16
Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[252]

 Neuchâtel
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[253]

 Nidwalden
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[254]

 Obwalden
None
No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[244]

 Schaffhausen
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[244]

 Schwyz
None
No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[244]

 Solothurn
None
16
Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[255]

 St. Gallen
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[256]

 Thurgau
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[257]

 Ticino
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[244]

 Uri
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[258]

 Valais
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. Currently the cantonal government is planning to raise the minimum age to 18 years.[259]

 Vaud
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[260]

 Zug
None
18
Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[261]

 Zürich
None
16
Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[262]

 Turkey
None
18

 Ukraine
14
18

 United Kingdom
16
18
 England and  Wales:
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18.[263] The minimum age to smoke in public is 16 and authorities have the duty to seize any tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of any person apparently under the age of 16.[264]
Minimum age to purchase was 16 from 1908 to October 1st 2007.
No Minimum age prior 1908.

18
 Scotland:
A person who sells a tobacco product or cigarette papers to a person under the age of 18 commits an offence. Any person under the age of 18 who buys or attempts to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers commits an offence as well as an adult who knowlingly buys a tobacco product or cigarette papers on behalf of a person under the age of 18.[265] Any constable who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person in a public place is under the age of 18, and in possession of a tobacco product or cigarette papers may require the person to surrender the tobacco product.[266]
Minimum age was 16 prior to September 30th 2007.

18
Northern Ireland:
A person who sells to a person under the age of 18 any tobacco or cigarette papers, whether for his own use or not, shall be guilty of an offence. A member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland may seize any tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of any person apparently under the age of 18 whom he finds smoking in any street or public place.[267]
Minimum age was 16 prior to September 1st 2008.

text: Disputed

text: Oceania[edit]

text:
Country
De jure
Notes

Smoking age
Purchase age

 Australia

Regulations by state/territory:

Province/territory
Smoking age
Purchase age
Notes

 Australian Capital Territory
None
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years.[268] Further it is illegal to buy a tobacco product for a minor.[269]

 New South Wales
None
18
It is illegal to sell any tobacco or non-tobacco smoking product to a person who is under the age of 18 years.[270]

 Northern Territory
None
18
It is illegal to sell any tobacco product to a minor or on behalf of a minors. It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a person under the age of 18 years present.[271][272]

 Queensland
None
18
It is illegal for an adult to supply a tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years; however, a responsible adult for a child does not commit an offence by supplying a smoking product to the child.[273]

 South Australia
None
18
It is an offence to supply any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years.[274]

 Tasmania
None
18
It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.
Minimum age was 16 prior to January 1st 1997.[275]

 Victoria
None
18
It is illegal to supply tobacco to a minor. Smoking in a vehicle with a person under 18 present is an offence.[276]

 Western Australia
None
18
It is illegal to sell, deliver or supply tobacco or smoking implement to a minor. Purchase on behalf of people under 18 prohibited.[277][278]

 Fiji
None
18
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.[279]

 Micronesia, Federated States of
18
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.

 New Zealand
None
18
It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.
No minimum age prior to 1903.
Minimum age of 15 years from 1903 to 1988.
Minimum age of 16 years from 1988 to 1998.[280][281]

 Palau
None
18
21 (Only rolling papers and elaus)
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. If the purchaser appears to be under the age of 30 years, ID must be checked before sale. It is illegal to employ anyone under the age of 21 handling tobacco products. It is illegal to sell rolling papers and elaus to anyone under the age of 21 years.[282]

 Papua New Guinea
None
18
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[283]

 Samoa
21
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years. It is not illegal for a person under the age of 21 years to possess or smoke tobacco in public.[284]

 Solomon Islands
None
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to a minor.[285]

 Tonga
None
18
It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to a minor.[286]

 Tokelau
16
It is illegal for a person under 16 to smoke tobacco.[287]

 Vanuatu
18
It is illegal to sell tobacco to a persons under 18. It is illegal for persons under 18 to smoke tobacco.[288]

text: Historical regulations[edit]

text:
Minimum age to purchase tobacco in Europe as of 1995:
  Minimum age is 18
  Minimum age is 16
  No minimum age

Minimum age to purchase tobacco in the United States as of 1989:[289]
  Minimum age is 19
  Minimum age is 18
  Minimum age is 17
  Minimum age is 16
  No minimum age