You have to be 18 or legal age to buy any kind of tobacco products, and that includes empty rolling tubes, packs of papers, or lighters.

A lot of places don't bother ID'ing for lighters and papers though, so if you don't look and sound like a 13 yr old boy, I'm sure you could buy one.

But yes, no lighter sucks! Now I just buy mine at Wal-Mart, in 4 packs for $4, and when I'm down to my last BIC, I make sure to go pick up some more.