The minimum age for buying tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in New Jersey is going up from 19 to 21 this fall, but don’t expect Pennsylvania to follow anytime soon.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, a co-sponsorship memo began circulating in the state House last week seeking support for legislation that would increase the tobacco-buying age to 21 in Pennsylvania. It doesn’t appear to be on the radar of legislative leaders who are focused on the state’s finances and budget.
Similar legislation was proposed last season, but it also went nowhere.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. According to the CDC, about 21 percent of adult Pennsylvanians are cigarette smokers and nearly 12 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 smoke.
