IntelliHub – by JG VibesNEW YORK (INTELLIHUB) — New York City is about to have the most strict smoking laws in the country after the local government voted to raise the legal smoking age to 21 Wednesday.
The law goes into effect in 6 months after signing.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a strong supporter of the tough smoking restrictions, has 30 days to sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will take effect 180 days after enactment.
Now when anyone under the age of 21 is caught with cigarettes they will be fined, and likewise businesses that sell to anyone under the age of 21 will risk fines or other penalties.
Obviously this law will have no effect on when people begin smoking, just as the current law of 18 doesn’t have any effect.
“This is literally legislation that will save lives,” Christine C. Quinn, the Council speaker, said shortly before the bill passed 35 to 10.
However, this is obviously intended to just create a new stream of revenue. Other details in the bill reveal some of the true intentions behind the emotional rhetoric about saving lives.
Besides raising the age to buy cigarettes, the Council also approved various other antismoking measures, such as increased penalties for retailers who evade tobacco taxes, a prohibition on discounts for tobacco products, and a minimum price of $10.50 a pack for cigarettes and little cigars, the New York Times reported.[1]
Smoking is a terrible habit, and tobacco in its current form is one of the most dangerous drugs on the market, but no law is ever going to solve this problem. Across the country the number of smokers is already dropping tremendously anyway, and it is not because of any laws, its because people are actually starting to learn the consequences, and because devices like E-Cigs are giving people safer alternatives.
Sources:
[1] Council Approves Raising Age to Buy Cigarettes to 21 – The New York Times
Writer Bio:
JG Vibes is an Intellihub.com investigative journalist, staff writer and editor. He is also the author of “Alchemy of the Modern Renaissance”, an 87 chapter e-book and is an artist with an established record label. Find him on his Facebook.
For media inquires, interviews, questions or suggestions for this author, email: vibes@intellihub.com or telephone: (347) 759-6075.
http://intellihub.com/2013/10/30/smoking-age-raised-21-new-york-city/
“This is literally legislation that will save lives,” Christine C. Quinn, the Council speaker, said shortly before the bill passed 35 to 10.”
SERIOUSLY???
Since WHEN are you @ssholes in the business of saving lives?
“Now when anyone under the age of 21 is caught with cigarettes they will be fined, and likewise businesses that sell to anyone under the age of 21 will risk fines or other penalties.”
Fines or other penalties. What a cash cow, eh?
Your b.s. couldn’t be more obvious.