# Does any country allow tobacco sales to people under 18?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824 "2009-01-11T19:50:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/1 "2009-01-11T19:50:49Z")

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Is there any country which allows people under 18 to legally buy cigarettes?

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**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/2 "2009-01-11T20:04:28Z")

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I’m not sure about ‘legally’, but in Mexico I’ve seen 12-year olds buying smokes.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/3 "2009-01-11T20:07:53Z")

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[There are a few](http://www.paulsquiz.com/Trivia_Quiz_Resources/Geography/List_of_Legal_Smoking_Age_For_countries_around_the_world/), although this appears to be far from an exhaustive list.

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**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/4 "2009-01-11T20:11:36Z")

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It used to be 16 over here in Germany, but the laws have changed (since sometime 2007, I believe). Cigarette vending machines now check your age via a bank card you have to insert.

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**Author:** ![erleichda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4da419/32.png) [@erleichda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erleichda)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/5 "2009-01-11T20:14:44Z")

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_From the list:_  
Palau  
Over the age of \*\*9 \*\*for sale. Vending Machines:Banned  
Ukraine  
Minimum age to purchase cigars and other related tobacco is 12 years  
:eek:

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-country-allow-tobacco-sales-to-people-under-18/480824/6 "2009-01-11T20:17:06Z")

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> [@erleichda](#):
>
> Over the age of \*\*9 \*\*for sale. Vending Machines:Banned  
> Ukraine

Well, you know, 8-year-old Ukranians have access to vending machines. We don’t want them corrupted!