If all goes as expected, the legal age to purchase tobacco products will climb from 18 to 21 in New York City in no more than 210 days, CNN reported.
The New York City Council approved the raise on Wednesday night. Mayer Michael Bloomberg, a known supporter of the bill, has 30 days to sign "Tobacco 21" into law, according to CNN. The law goes into action 180 days after Bloomberg's signature.
"By increasing the smoking age to 21, we will help prevent another generation from the ill health and shorter life expectancy that comes with smoking," Bloomberg said in a statement on Wednesday.
Tobacco products will also include electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco known as dip, CNN reported.
New York City is the largest of several cities, including Needham, Mass., to increase the age to 21, according to CNN. Many neighboring areas like New Jersey and Long Island recently re-set the age to 19.
"This will literally save many, many lives," said City Councilman James Gennaro, the bill's sponsor. "I've lived with it, I've seen it...but I feel good today."
The new law "will protect teens and may prevent many people from ever starting to smoke," Health Commissioner Thomas A. Farley said in a statement following the vote.
Tobacco 21 represents another step in Bloomberg's plan to promote healthy life styles of New York City residents. He previously passed a bill to limit the size of sugary drinks to 16 ounces, according to CNN. But the bill to end the Big Gulp was eventually repealed by the Supreme Court. Bloomberg also helped construct the high line, which converted old rail road tracks into a raised walking park for pedestrians.
Will Tobacco 21 be effective? What do NYC citizens think? See video below for some answers, courtesy of WebProNews.
