<human>:  Would Eric Clapton's mother hypothetically be unable to legally purchase cigarettes in the USA at his birth?
<bot>: Yes, Eric Clapton's mother would have been unable to legally purchase cigarettes in the USA at the time of his birth. Eric Clapton's mother was 16 years old at the time of his birth. As of 2020, federal law required states comply with a minimum age of 21 years for sale/purchase of tobacco products. So Eric Clapton's mother would have been unable to legally purchase cigarettes in the USA.