AUGUSTA — Maine is getting $750,000 from the federal government to increase enforcement of federal and state tobacco laws — especially those affecting children.
Both federal and state law bar tobacco sales to anyone under 18, and retailers must check IDs of anyone under 27.
The grant comes after an increase in teen smoking rates in Maine. The rate of smoking by Maine high school students reached a low of 14 percent in 2007, but increased to 18 percent two years later.
The National Center for Disease Control says people who begin smoking before age 19 are likely to become lifelong smokers.
Maine Attorney General Janet Mills and Health and Human Services Commissioner Brenda Harvey announced the Food and Drug Administration grant on Wednesday.
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