NYC raises the age to legally buy cigarettes

NEW YORK – The age to buy cigarettes in New York City is officially going up. A bill adopted by the city council will raise the age to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Health officials and anti-smoking advocates argue that putting cigarettes out of the reach of young adults will ultimately save lives.

“Research shows that people are moving from casually trying cigarettes to becoming cemented smokers in those critical age years,” Michele Bonan of the American Cancer Society told PIX 11. “And so when you’re around your peers and you’re starting to see this trend taking hold, it’s more likely to take hold at those ages.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will sign it into law. It will go into effect six months after it gets the mayor’s signature. This will be the strictest limit on buying tobacco products of any major American city.