Lazaro Aleman: Greene Publishing, Inc.
For the second year in a row, the Florida legislature is set to consider legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products. Bills introduced in both the House and Senate seek to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21. The proposed legislation is being called the “Tobacco 21 Act.”
Senator David Simmons, of Altamonte Springs (Republican), introduced the Senate version (Senate Bill 1288) and Representatives Don Hahnfeldt, of The Villages (Republican), and Lori Berman, of Lantana (Democrat), introduced the House version (House Bill 1029).
The two bills seek to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21, as well as prohibit certain entities from gifting sample tobacco products to underage persons, among other restrictions. The bills would impose fines on merchants who violate the law, with the penalties set at up to a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1,000 fine for a second.
Individuals under 21 who attempt to buy tobacco products by misrepresenting their age would face mandatory community service, with 20 hours prescribed for a first violation and 40 hours for a second violation within one year if found guilty of the noncriminal violation. If approved, the bill would go into effect on Oct. 1, 2018.
The sponsoring lawmakers argue that raising the smoking age limit is essential to saving lives and reducing healthcare costs, citing the expensive treatments for lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and emphysema. They also cite studies showing that nearly all first use of tobacco products occur before high school graduation and that minors annually purchase about 1.5 million packs of cigarettes.
Other states that have raised the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco products to 21 are Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Maine and Oregon.