NJ Spotlight published the following article on June 9, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
STATE LEGISLATORS DEBATE RAISING NJ’S MINIMUM AGE FOR CIGARETTE SALES TO 21
ANDREW KITCHENMAN | JUNE 9, 2014Measure would put onus on retailers to curb sales, backers say young adults remain likely to start smoking
It’s a common deception among young smokers — getting someone who’s older to buy cigarettes for them. But if a proposed bill becomes law, it will be just a bit tougher for juveniles to get their smokes from someone else: The measure would raise the minimum age to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products from 19 to 21.
What’s more, if S-602/A-3254, is enacted, New Jersey will be the only state to increase the minimum age to 21.
The bill pits public-health advocates against business owners. The former basically advance two arguments: Raising the legal age to 21 will keep cigarettes out of the hands of high-school kids. Further, statistics show that some smokers don’t start until between 19 and 20.
Business owners argue that it’s unfair to put the entire responsibility for curbing smoking on them.
Pretty much the same arguments were made in the debate over a 2006 law raising the minimum age from 18 to 19.