Suozzi Signs ‘Tobacco 19’ Bill Into Law, Raising Minimum Age to Buy Tobacco Products

Cedarhurst, NY – In an effort to curb underage smoking and make it harder for teens to obtain cigarettes, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi signed into law a bill raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 19 in Nassau County. The Nassau County Legislature passed ‘TOBACCO 19’ Monday.

The law makes it more difficult for younger teenagers to “pass” for the legal age, adding a substantial obstacle to their purchasing tobacco products.

“By taking cigarettes out of the hands of high school aged kids, we reduce the risk of those kids passing them on to their friends,” County Executive Suozzi said. “Elevating the smoking age is a step towards eliminating teenage smoking permanently.”

County Executive Suozzi was joined at the signing by bill sponsors Legislator Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside) and Legislator Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), as well as Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick). According to Toback, who also serves as the chairperson of the Health and Social Service committee, an informal study of local students shows that approximately 30% of the students at Nassau County high schools smoke cigarettes everyday, often on school grounds.

“By raising the legal tobacco purchasing age to 19, we can further reduce the prevalence of cigarettes in our high schools and keep teens from developing an addiction that threatens their lives and jeopardizes their futures,” Toback said. “Often, 18-year-olds, especially those who are 18-year-old high school seniors, will buy cigarettes for their younger friends. A recent California study showed 59 percent of 18-19 years olds were asked by an adolescent to purchase cigarettes on their behalf.”

“I want to applaud the efforts of the Legislature, especially Legislators Toback and Yatauro for their tireless efforts in pushing this bill forward,” County Executive Suozzi said. “Because of their efforts, teenage smoking is going to take a big hit.”

According to statistics, more than 80 percent of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18. Toback said that it is estimated that tobacco companies make $1.8 billion from underage sales. As long ago as 1986, a Phillip Morris executive stated, “Raising the legal minimum age for cigarette purchase to 21 could gut our key young adult market (17-20) where we sell about 25 billion cigarettes and enjoy a 70% market share.”