New York, NY – On the heels of New York City’s announcement that it would pursue legislation in the New York City Council to increase the minimum age for purchase of cigarettes from 18 years old to 21 years old, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) announced she is sponsoring legislation with Senator Diane J. Savino (D/IP/WF-Staten Island) to do the same statewide.

“The state has a vested interest in promoting preventive and protective health policies, including reducing tobacco use among young people,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. “Encouraging youth to stay away from addictive tobacco furthers those goals.”

Every year in New York, 53,000 young people under the age of 18 become regular smokers. Research shows that the vast majority of lifelong smokers smoked their first cigarette as a teenager. That same research demonstrates that it becomes exponentially more difficult to quit the longer one smokes and the younger one was when one began smoking.

“I started smoking when I was just a teenager and no doubt caused damage to my health over 20 years of smoking,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “I was able to kick the habit 15 years ago, but it was one of the most difficult undertakings of my life,” she said. “I hope this legislation will spare a new generation of young people both the health consequences and the struggle of quitting.”

“The best way to reduce the number of smokers in New York is to prevent people from becoming addicted in the first place,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “The evidence is clear; the younger a person is when he or she starts smoking, the more likely they are to become a lifelong smoker and the more severe the negative health impacts. The three years between 18 and 21 may mean the difference between life and death for a generation of young people.”

In addition to saving lives, this legislation will also save money in healthcare costs and lost days from work. It is estimated that New York State businesses lose approximately $3,734 each year for every employee who smokes through absenteeism, lost productivity and excessive medical expenditures.