On the other hand, State Sen. Diane Savino, commented,” As a former smoker, I know how addictive these products can be – but as a legislator, I know its good public policy to take every step to continue protecting our youth from these potentially dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, said, “Big tobacco and its vaping industry cronies build their business by hooking young people on nicotine. Raising the statewide smoking and vaping age to 21 years old will help prevent a new generation of young people from getting hooked on nicotine. It will also ensure that young people cannot just travel to another county to purchase dangerous and highly-addictive cigarettes or e-cigarettes.”
Sen. Savino and Assembly member Rosenthal are the sponsors of the legislation.
The Governor’s office noted that tobacco use remains the number one of preventable death in New York State. The number of underage youth smoking traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes is increasing.
According to the New York State Department of Health, e-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product by young New Yorkers. The rate of e-cigarette use among the youth in the state from 2014 to 2016 increased from 11 percent to 11 percent.
