Cigarette by Barbara K.
The Council will consider a bill that would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy a pack of cigarettes. Sorry, D.C. college kids.
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) will introduce a bill tomorrow that would raise the tobacco buying age to 21. In a release, McDuffie said that raising the age would “decrease access to cigarettes, and, more importantly, may decrease the rate of smoking in young adults.”
New York City will soon become the largest jurisdiction in the U.S. to raise the tobacco buying age from 18 to 21. Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah have raised the age to 19. Hawaii and New Jersey will consider raising the age to 21.
“We have an obligation to stay on the leading edge of smoking prevention strategies here in the District,” McDuffie said in the release. “By restricting tobacco sales to young people, we can prevent many of our youth from acquiring a terrible, deadly addiction. Research shows that delaying access to tobacco products is an effective means of long-term smoking prevention.”
A draft of the legislation will be available later today.
Update: Thus far, the bill has three co-introducers, according to McDuffie’s communications director: Councilmembers Yvette Alexander (Ward-7), Mary Cheh (Ward-3) and Jim Graham (Ward-1).
Second update: McDuffie introduced the bill today with Councilmembers Yvette Alexander (Ward-7), Mary Cheh (Ward-3), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Jim Graham (Ward-1). Tommy Wells (Ward-6) co-sponsored the bill. See it below.
Prohibition Against Selling Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Amendment Act of 2013
