New York has decided to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco from 18 to 21. In France, the prohibition on sale to under 18s is poorly respected.
New York continues its war on tobacco. The latest measure that has just come into effect concerns young people: under the age of 21, it is now forbidden to buy tobacco in New York. And the free riders are warned, tobacconists are called to ask them for an identity document and to scan it!
The former mayor of the city, Michael Bloomberg, had planned in the text, voted before his departure in 2013, that this ban would apply to traditional cigarettes as well as electronic cigarettes or even roll-your-own tobacco.
For the deputy for health of the town hall, the interest of this law is not in doubt. Last October, when city council passed the provision, Thomas Farley said, “Over 80% of adults who smoke in New York City started before age 21. This measure will protect teenagers, and will probably prevent many from starting to smoke, ”he added.
By making the legal age of 18 to 21, the municipality has great ambitions. She hopes to ultimately reduce smoking by 55% among 18-20 year olds. Indeed, the overall drop in smoking in New York recorded in recent years mainly concerns adults. That of young people has stagnated since 2007 at around 8.5%.
In France, the sale of tobacco has been prohibited to minors since 2003. However, the law is often bypassed. According to a “mystery shopper” survey by National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), only one in ten tobacconists ask a young person for his identity document in case of doubt. The OFDT tells him that six out of ten agree without hesitation to sell tobacco to a minor. History will tell if New York tobacconists are more intransigent …
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