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[ INDUSTRY NEWS]
N.Y. proposes increasing smoking age
Legislation introduced by New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. which would attempt to curb teen smoking by raising the state's legal smoking age to 19, has caused mixed emotions among supporters and critics.
According to Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group evidence that would justify raising the teen smoking age by one year does not exist. "It's important lawmakers base decisions on evidence. In this case they don't have it," Horner told the Associated Press.
Opponents of the proposal also say that raising the smoking age by one year is discriminatory against 18-year-olds. Michael Long, chair of the New York Conservative Party, told the AP that the proposal is a way for lawmakers to dictate what's best for teens; that it's okay for them to defend their country, vote or get married, but it's not okay to buy a pack of cigarettes.
Other states, including Alabama, Utah and Alaska, have raised the smoking age to 19. However, in the case for Alabama, the law has done little to discourage teens from smoking. The AP wrote that a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Public Health said the state's age restriction on cigarette purchases has not been an effective means of curbing teen smoking. "We have not seen a very large difference between Alabama and the neighboring states."
Many teens in New York who currently smoke say that raising the legal age from 18 to 19 to purchase cigarettes would have no impact on their habit and that the only way to discourage teens from smoking would be to ban the product.
Meanwhile, the smoking age in Suffolk (N.Y.) County was increased to 19 on May 16, reported Newsday. The legislation had been signed into law by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy on Jan. 31.
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