NJ Smoking Age May Be Raised To 21

If a proposed New Jersey bill passes muster, young smokers will have to wait an additional three years to legally purchase their first pack of butts.

On Thursday, a New Jersey State Assembly panel approved a bill that would raise the legal purchasing age for cigarettes and electronic smoking devices such as e-vapes to 21.

In addition to cigarettes, almost all forms of smoking materials and devices would be subject to the new law, including electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and pipes.

Retailers who violate the proposed law would face penalties up to $250 for the first violation, $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for each following citation.

In addition, any person who gives a person under 21-years-old a cigarette or tobacco product would receive a petty disorderly persons offense, the bill states.

The bill – A3254 – passed committee voting 11 to 1, with the only opposition coming from Assistant Republican Whip Erik Peterson (D-23).

The proposed bill, passed in the Senate in June, now heads to the full Assembly for a vote. If approved, the only remaining hurdle would be approval from the governor’s desk.

The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month following the date of enactment.

• See the full text of the proposed bill here.

According to the state Office of Legislative Services, based on data suggesting that individuals aged 19 and 20 currently purchase about 8.2 million packs of cigarettes per year in New Jersey, the new law would result in a $19 million annual loss for the state from related taxes.

SMOKING IN ESSEX COUNTY

In October, the Essex County Freeholders approved a smoking ban in all county-owned parks and properties.

• See related article: Essex County Bans Smoking In Public Parks, Including Montclair

In addition, several towns in Essex County have enacted or debated their own municipal smoking bans in recent years:

• See related article: Smoking Ban Considered on Town Grounds In Montclair
• See related article: Smoking Ban Ordinance Passes Unanimously In Maplewood
• See related article: Final Vote for Belleville Smoking Ban Pushed Back to June 9
• See related article: Millburn gets no-smoking signs for municipal parks
• See related article: Newark council passes anti-smoking, foreclosure ordinances

File photo via flickr