NY Raises Age to Buy Cigarettes to 21

New York Raising Age to Buy Cigarettes to 21
New York Times- October 30, 2013

1.      http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/nyregion/new-york-approves-law-to-raise-tobacco-purchasing-age-to-21.html

2.      Category of Problem/Issue identified in article: Health/ Legislation

3.      Level of problem/issue: State

4.      This article is concerning an “enacted” policy that has been passed to help with a problem/issue that individuals/families face.

5.      This is important to individuals and families because of the detrimental health risks caused by cigarette smoking. Putting an age restriction on the purchases of cigarettes may help decrease the number of current smokers in the United States.

6.      As noted in my previous post, the ban against cigarette displays had been dropped from the same bill increasing the age of purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 21. Well, my friends, the bill was passed and sign by Mayor Bloomberg. Quite a few people are upset about this new regulation; however, I could not be more excited. A lot of people say that individuals who are exposed to cigarettes as a child are more likely to pick up the same habit when they are older. That was not the case for my siblings and I who grew up with parents who smoked. It was the exact opposite for us. We were, however, able to witness the struggle that cigarettes imposed on our parents’ lives. The financial burden that drooped over their heads as the price of cigarettes steadily increased always caused more anxiety, and I’m sure our presentations stating that we could go on more family vacations if they ceased smoking did not help. Stating within the bill is the price of cigarettes and little cigars must be raised to at least $10.50. I can assure you that quite a few smokers might consider picking up a new habit because of this price increase. Like I stated before, I think this bill is a great thing and I wish more states would also adopt a way to decrease the number of smokers nationwide. If 85% of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 21, than hopefully less people will develop chronically fatal diseases due to this highly addictive drug.