CONCORD – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted in support of legislation that would increase the statewide age of sale for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 19 to 21. This would bring the state law into parity with recent federal legislation which increased the federal tobacco sales age to 21. The following statement can be attributed to Mike Rollo, New Hampshire director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“Kids and tobacco just don’t mix. Research shows that if a person does not begin smoking at a young age, they are much less likely to ever smoke. In fact, 95% of adults who smoke started smoking before the age of 21 and nearly all of them started by age 26. That’s why it’s so critical lawmakers stick to evidence-based solutions to help combat youth tobacco use.
“While we were disappointed when Granite State lawmakers last year voted to increase age of sale of tobacco to 19 – a move which would not have measurable lifesaving impacts – the recent implementation of a tobacco sales age increase at the federal level was a welcome measure. The federal legislation sets the floor, not the ceiling, on how we can protect our youth from access to deadly tobacco products. We have the opportunity for New Hampshire to take ownership of our kids’ health by increasing the state’s tobacco sales age to 21, making it consistent with federal law and eliminating any public confusion.
“We thank Senate leadership for bringing this bill to a vote and commend the strong bipartisan support shown on the floor, but the work is not done: we urge the House of Representatives and Gov. Sununu to support this bill, and ensure the age of sale for tobacco products in New Hampshire state law is consistent with federal law.”
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