The New York City Council voted Wednesday to ban the sales of cigarettes to those under the age of 21. Other products banned from those under 21 were some other tobacco products and electronic-vapor cigarettes. The Council also mandated minimum prices for tobacco cigarettes and increases police enforcement of sales of tobacco forbidden by law.
City Councilman James Gennaro, the bill’s sponsor, whose mother and father died as a result of using tobacco, said, “This will literally save many, many lives. I’ve lived with it, I’ve seen it…but I feel good today.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed, saying, “We know that tobacco dependence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it’s critical that we stop young people from smoking before they ever start.” He has 30 days to sign the new bills, which will take effect 180 days after the signing.
New York is now the largest city to set the bar for smoking at age 21. Supporters of the new law point to the delay for youths in obtaining cigarettes as a way to keep them from picking up the smoking habit and also note that drinking-age laws use 21 as their standard. Critics of the law aver that young people may turn to the black market for their tobacco, and assert that it is unfair to allow 18-year-olds to serve in the military but not allow them to smoke.
Ray Story, founder of the Atlanta-based Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said, “Is 21 the right number? People can join the Army at 18.”
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