Tobacco.org

Minimum 21-year-old smoking age debated 

State lawmakers have floated a proposal to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes to 21, a three-year jump over current laws.

The move met with resistance from agencies representing the tobacco industry and convenience stores.

Both tax increases on smokes and Internet sales have hit manufacturers and retailers hard, industry representatives maintain.

But supporters of the measure said its benefits, such as deterring youth smoking, outweigh any drawbacks.

"We need a comprehensive approach," said Larry Downs, director of NJ BREATHES. "It's the single largest public health issue in the state."

According to Downs, approximately 13,000 people die annually from tobacco-related illnesses, more than fire, murder and AIDS combined.

Those behind the bill, Assemblymen John McKeon, D-Essex, and Joseph Cryan, D-Union, contend it will help keep smoking out of high schools.

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