Raise the legal age of sale to 21

Raising the legal age of sale removes a principle source of tobacco for children, which is other young people age 18-20.  There are lots of 18 year old high school students, and some even at 19, but 21 year olds seldom travel in high school social circles.  Also, smokers frequently transition from occasional or social smoking to daily use between the ages of 18 and 24.  Curtailing legal access makes this much less likely to happen.

Where it’s been done

• NYC
• Suffolk County
• Cortland County
• Chautauqua County
• Cattaraugus County
• Schenectady County
• Orange County
• Town of North Hempstead