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* Illinois News Network…
Illinois will become the eight state to raise the legal age to 21 to buy or use tobacco products after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed new legislation into law Sunday afternoon.
Flanked by lawmakers and public health advocates in Chicago, Pritzker signed the Tobacco 21 bill, which goes into effect July 1. The new law raises the legal age from 18 to purchase or use cigarettes or other tobacco products as well as vaping products. […]
Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed similar legislation, saying people will just cross state lines to get tobacco products.
* Sun-Times…
Before signing the bill, Pritzker noted that 1.5 million more young people used e-cigarettes in 2018 than in 2016. “We’re dealing with an old problem in a new form,” he said.
* AP…
With Pritzker’s action, beginning on July 1, Illinois will join California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine and Washington, D.C. in banning sales to those under 21. Included in the ban are cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and nicotine-based products such as e-cigarettes and vaping materials.
The legislation also does away with penalties for underage possession. Businesses, however, will still face fines and other sanctions for selling to underage customers.
Supporters say the law will discourage teenagers from a deadly, lifelong habit. The legislation’s opponents contended if 18-year-olds can vote and serve in the military, they should be able to decide whether to smoke.
* Kevin Burns, JUUL Labs CEO…
Tobacco 21 laws fight one of the largest contributors to this problem – sharing by legal-age peers – and they have been shown to dramatically reduce youth-use rates.
* CBS 2…
“Often, we only think of the 18, 19 and 20-year olds being affected by this law, but actually the target age group is the 14-17-year olds. One of the points of this legislation is to remove the 18-year-old supplier from the high schools,” said Rep. Camille Lilly.
Ninety-five percent of smokers start before the age of 21, and in Illinois 5,700 teens become new daily smokers each year, according to a Cook County Health press release.
The City of Chicago raised the age to purchase tobacco products to 21 in 2016, becoming one of the first municipalities to tax e-cigarettes, ban tobacco discounts and require that clerks who ring up tobacco sales be at least 21-years-old. A similar Cook County law was set to go into effect in unincorporated areas June 1.
“As a result of the city’s robust policy agenda and enforcement actions, teen smoking in Chicago has reached a record low of six percent, dropping by more than half over the last six years,” Emanuel’s office stated in a press release.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 8:35 am
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Good to see times change. ‘Removing the 18-year old supplier’ was the crux of our argument when I tried to raise the smoking age to 19 well over a decade ago. The legislation was firmly trounced - although it could have been because of a bad sponsor
All kidding aside, I think that this is an important step forward and it falls squarely in the ‘better late than never’ category.
Comment by Hon. John Fritchey Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 8:47 am
A terrible addictive and destructive habit for sure. Sellers should be fined, under 21 smokers should be ticketed and fined. The downside health risk to society is bleeding our country dry in health cost
Comment by truthteller Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:16 am
All of my friends who teach in high schools complain about students vaping in class.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:16 am
“Sellers should be fined, under 21 smokers should be ticketed and fined”
Completely disagree. We need to cut off the supply. If sellers only see downside to selling to folks under 21, the supply will be severely limited. And wasting time and resources to fine kids for possession will take away from the time that should be focused on enforcing the seller penalties.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:23 am
Yep. 18 years old. Old enough to die for this country. Old enough to enter legal agreements in it. Just not old enough to smoke in it. Nice.
Comment by NATTY BOY Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:27 am
Oops. I misread truthteller’s post as saying sellers should not be fined. My bad.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:29 am
NATTY BOY -
One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. 18 year old high school romeo giving his 16 year old girl friend smokes is why the 18 year old marine can’t buy ‘em.
Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:55 am
I’ll never understand the argument about “old enough to die for our country” as a reason to let 18 year olds smoke. Shouldn’t you want our military in the VERY best of health? Or are you ok with sending our young people into battle with nicotine addiction and compromised pulmonary function?
Comment by Reese's Pieces Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:12 am
=== I’ll never understand the argument about “old enough to die for our country” as a reason to let 18 year olds smoke. Shouldn’t you want our military in the VERY best of health? Or are you ok with sending our young people into battle with nicotine addiction and compromised pulmonary function? ===
Ummm… I think you are missing the point of that argument.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:17 am
===I think you are missing the point of that argument.===
Intentionally
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:23 am
Perhaps we shouldn’t be sending teenagers into combat. I’m not saying don’t let them enlist, just that they have to stay behind the lines until they’re 21.
That’s if there is such a thing as behind the lines anymore.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:41 am
@NATTY Boy-
I’m with Cheryl. Take your proposal to raise the combat age to 21 to Congress, we are with you.
Comment by Fast Eddie Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:05 am
You also can’t be President until you’re 35. There are all sorts of age restrictions in life. Get used to it.
Comment by Anon E Moose Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:09 am
I do detest smoking, but how would this help cut down on youthful smoking? And if I kid is determined to light one up they’ll find a way. Do we need another law raising or lowering the age to change this issue. If only there was a way to make smoking look less appealing or cool to those young people. We can tell them of the health effects, but there must be other solutions.
Comment by Levois Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:13 am
I wish I believed there was a way and a will to actually enforce this law.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:44 am
Decrease access for all. Yes, even our military men and women.
We ask so much of them. They pay such a price. I don’t understand why *not discouraging* a permanently self destructive behavior benefits anyone. Especially them.
Comment by Winderweezle Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:47 am
Former teenaged smoker here. If I hadn’t had ready access to cigarettes–which, back in the day meant people willing to sell them to me, vending machines, older teenagers willing to procure them for me–I wouldn’t have smoked as a teenager.
Now you can really get in trouble selling to underaged kids, and I really have no idea if cigarette machines exist anymore. So that’s two ways of getting them gone or close to it. Raising the age to 21 cuts off the seniors buying smokes for the juniors.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:58 am
Any determined Illinois high school student can obtain any substance they want with four hours notice.
Comment by Enemy of the State Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 12:55 pm