ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday announced a proposal that would raise the tobacco and e-cigarette sales age from 18 to 21.
He said the proposal would be included in the 2019 executive budget.
"We have made great strides to stamp out teen smoking," Cuomo said, "but new products threaten to undo this progress to the detriment of millions of Americans."
Cuomo is also proposing to end the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products in pharmacies.
In a statement Saturday, Candace S. Johnson, PhD, President and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center applauded the governor's proposal, saying in part:
“The governor’s proposal is an important opportunity to save lives and protect New York State residents, from the youngest to the oldest... Tobacco is the only consumer product that when used as intended will kill nearly half of its users and expose anyone nearby to the same dangers. It’s both a moral and a practical imperative for us to embrace these policies as a community because they are the best way to restrict access to tobacco and put an end to retail practices that are luring children to become new smokers.”
