New York to Consider Tobacco 21 Among Other Tobacco-Related Bills

A few weeks ago, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sought out a multi-pronged approach to improving the health of residents across the state by limiting access to tobacco products, including an increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21-years-old. Recently, that request was introduced into the state Assembly by was of AB 558, a bill that has already garnered the support of 32 legislators.

The bill largely replaces existing language in the state’s laws, changing the age of 18 to 21-years-old for the purchase of tobacco products as well as tobacco alternatives such as e-cigarettes. It also changes some laws regarding private clubs and the minimum age of membership, as well as exemptions for things such as trade shows and conventions, as well as events sponsored by tobacco companies.

Additionally, the legislature will consider several other tobacco-related bills, including:

• AB 340, which requires all online sellers of tobacco products to require a recipient, at the delivery address upon delivery, to demonstrate that the recipient is at least 21-years-old by providing a valid photo ID, and requires the recipient to sign an electronic or paper form or other acknowledgement of receipt as approved by the department of health
• AB 341, which requires online purchasers of tobacco products to digitally upload a government-issued identification for verification of age, and requires sellers to include the words “”TOBACCO PRODUCT”” on the purchaser’s billing statement for online sales.
• AB 389 & SB 592, which would ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies

All of the bills are currently in their chamber’s Health Committee awaiting further action.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.