SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – April 25, 2018 – Today, the Illinois State Senate voted to raise the minimum age of tobacco sales to 21 years old. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Shana Crews, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, released the following statement in response:
“We’re thrilled our senators voted for Illinois to join a growing number of communities across the country fighting back against tobacco. Too many young people become addicted to tobacco before they even have a chance to grow up, but Illinois has an opportunity to ensure our kids won’t join these numbers.
“Communities without ‘tobacco 21’ laws often find that young people get cigarettes and other products through their older friends. High school is unfortunately a prime time for students to begin a tobacco addiction, and peer pressure plays a significant role. But if kids don’t pick up a cigarette during these vulnerable teenage years, they’ll be less likely to do so when they’re 21.
"This is a chance to weaken Big Tobacco’s hold on our state. We applaud our lawmakers for their hard work to ensure kids live longer, healthier lives, and we urge the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead.”
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.