In a new Public Health Proposal, Mayor Bloomberg proposed to raise the age at which individuals can purchase cigarettes in the New York City to 21 years old, up from 18. According to the NY Daily News:
Officials cite data showing that 80% of smokers in the city started before age 21 — and a study that found raising the legal age to 21 could cut smoking rates among 18-to-20-year-olds by more than half.
“If we can prevent our youth from starting smoking before they’re 21, we may just be able to protect an entire generation from a lifetime of being addicted to the world’s most dangerous drug,” Farley said.
Spearheaded by Christine Quinn, the City Counsel Speaker, and Dr. Thomas Farley, the City’s Health Commissioner. The legislation, if passed, would leave NYC with the highest minimum age to purchase cigarettes in the nation. Many seem to believe the bill is seemingly “an attack on the maturity and self-determination of young people”, and is in essences useless. After all, youth find ways to get alcohol so why wouldn’t they find ways to get cigarettes?
Written By Georgianna Dolan-Reilly, LMSW
SJS Staff Writer
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I don’t understand. If they are already smoking how will this bill help? It might, and that’s a big might, reduce the number of new smokers but there is no way to know that either. I completely agree with you. If the masses can find ways to get alcohol they will find a way to get cigarettes. I have been approached by teens waiting outside shops soliciting people to buy them cigarettes. There will always be the unscrupulous individuals who will buy it for them. And in NY, especially in the 5 boroughs, you have people – though not as predominant as it used to be – who sell “looseys” or lose single cigarettes on the street. As a Social Worker, I understand that they want to address an identified problem but there will be ways around this. AND, who is going to enforce this?
Couldn’t agree more! I see actions like this as part of the stages of developing a new mentality. After a few generations perhaps youth under 21 will be less likely to not only smoke but seek out cigarettes in illegal ways, In terms of enforcement who knows, probably the already burdened criminal an judicial system. I do believe they are fining places that sell to those underage, not those who smoke underage. Maybe underage smoking and drinking would be limited more if those who did it were also fined?
Interesting – as some states legalize marijuana, New York is banning large bottles of soda, and now might raise the smoking age?
I’m in favor of ending the war on drugs so addicts can come out from the shadows, people can buy them at legit business instead of from gang members (so then gang members would lose their income and get real jobs and stop shooting people in turf wars), and the sales would be taxed like everything else. So to me, this is outlandish.