In an effort to decrease tobacco sales to young people, the Food and Drug Administration finalized a rule Thursday to increase minimum age restrictions on some products.

Starting Sept. 30, retailers need to verify the age of tobacco buyers under the age of 30 with a photo ID. 

Currently, the FDA requires photo IDs for anyone under the age of 27 who is buying a tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. 

“Regardless of appearance, research has shown that it is difficult for retailers to accurately determine the age of a customer from appearance alone,” the FDA said in a statement. 

The finalized rule also prohibits retailers from selling tobacco products through vending machines in places where people under the age of 21 are present or permitted. Currently, the FDA restricts tobacco vending machines in places where people under the age of 18 are present or permitted. 

“Today’s rule is another key step toward protecting our nation’s youth from the health risks of tobacco products,” FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Brian King said in a statement.

“Decades of science have shown that keeping tobacco products away from youth is critical to reducing the number of people who ultimately become addicted to these products and suffer from tobacco-related disease and death.”

Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States, making up about 20% of deaths annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

About 10% of middle and high school students in a 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey reported they currently use tobacco products.