Young Smokers Top Bloomberg’s List of Dislikes
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Office of the Mayor(NEW YORK) — New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s move to stymie smoking among young New Yorkers moved one step closer to realization Wednesday when the City Council voted overwhelmingly to bump the tobacco-purchasing age from 18 to 21.
“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,” Bloomberg said in a statement.
The mayor has 30 days to sign the bill into law, after which time young smokers will have 180 days to stock up before the ban.
The City Council also voted in favor of a $10.50-a-pack minimum price for cigarettes, and for steps to bolster law enforcement on illegal tobacco sales.
City Council’s vote Wednesday to raise the tobacco-purchasing age to 21 gives New York the toughest tobacco laws of any major city.
Bloomberg has also proposed legislation that would require stores to keep cigarettes out of sight, hidden behind counters or in bins or closets so that children and former smokers would not be tempted to buy them.
“Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity, and they invite young people to experiment with tobacco,” Bloomberg said.
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