New York Raises the Legal Age to Buy Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products to 21

On November 14, according to CNN, starting Wednesday, anyone wishing to purchase tobacco and e-cigarette products in New York must be at least 21 years old.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill this summer to address health threats posed by the use of these products.

According to a press release, the New York State Police are working with the Department of Health to conduct undercover investigations of retailers selling e-cigarette products to underage youth.

Cuomo stated in a statement earlier this month that the goal of this law is simple: to prevent cigarettes and vaping products from getting into the hands of our youth, to prevent them from developing deadly habits. We are taking proactive measures to ensure that the use of e-cigarettes among young New Yorkers does not increase sharply, preventing the loss of decades of progress made in combating tobacco addiction.

According to the New York Department of Health, nearly 27% of high school students in the state are currently using e-cigarettes. In September, New York became the first state in the U.S. to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine e-liquids to combat the rise in e-cigarette use among youth.

Advocacy organization the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World stated that New York is the 18th state to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products to 21. Other states that have passed this legislation include Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois, Delaware, Arkansas, Washington, Maryland, Utah, Vermont, Texas, Connecticut, and Ohio.

In response to nationwide incidents of lung injuries related to vaping, some states have considered new methods to restrict e-cigarette sales. As of November 5, there have been 2,051 reported cases of vaping-related illnesses, with at least 40 deaths reported across states. The first reported death related to vaping in New York was a 17-year-old boy from the Bronx.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that vitamin E acetate (an additive sometimes used in tetrahydrocannabinol and other vaping products) may be the culprit behind the outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries. The CDC continues to test various chemicals.

CDC Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat stated last week that this does not rule out other possible factors. There may be multiple causes.