The rising price of cigarettes might not be the only thing preventing some people from purchasing a pack. That’s if two state lawmakers and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn get their way. The trio, which includes Senator Diane Savino and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, announced new legislation that would raise the state’s minimum smoking age to 21.
They said the measure would cut down on the number of minors who smoke. They said 90 percent of minors get their cigarettes from people between the ages of 18 and 20.
New York City proposed similar legislation last week. According to the State Health Department, 88 percent of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 19.
