Elizabeth Hamlin-Berninger, Director of Advocacy in New York
for the American Lung Association said:
“Tobacco is a highly addictive product, and close to 95
percent of smokers try their first cigarette by the age of 21. With youth e-cigarette use already at
epidemic levels, raising the age of sale to 21 would be a significant victory
for public health and in the interest of protecting our young people from a
dangerous and lifelong addiction. Over
28% of New York high school students reported using tobacco products in 2017
and the use of e-cigarettes by our youth is an epidemic that demands bold
action. With adolescents and young adults proving to be uniquely vulnerable to
the effects of nicotine and nicotine addiction, we must not delay this
important, life-saving legislation any longer.
In fact, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of
Medicine) found increasing the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products to
21 could prevent 223,000 deaths among people born between 2000 and 2019,
including 50,000 fewer dying from lung cancer – the nation’s leading cancer
killer. Some of those children are New York’s children – and this legislation
might just save their lives by stopping them from using tobacco before they
start.”
Thanks to Assemblymember Rosenthal and to the Assembly for
taking this vital first step - and we implore the Senate to follow suit
swiftly”