Colorado lawmakers look to outlaw tobacco use for those under 21

By Lynn Bartels
The Denver Post
A bill that would raise the age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 is intended to try to keep young kids from picking up the habit.
The bipartisan measure, from two Democrats in the House and two in the Senate, could be introduced as early as Tuesday.
Jodi L. Radke of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said most 18-year-olds are seniors in high school.
“They are able to go off campus during the lunch hour and buy tobacco products and oftentimes they are coming back to use them across the street or near campus and sharing them with their peers,” she said. “The push behind this is to delay the initiation with kids; 95 percent of tobacco users begin using tobacco before the age of 21.”
The bill will cover tobacco products, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It does not increase penalties, only the age.
An underage person who buys a tobacco product commits a Class 2 petty offense and faces a $100 fine or community service. It also is a petty offense to sell to a minor, with fines varying depending on the number of offenses.
In addition to Colorado, legislatures in Utah and Maryland will take up the issue this year, Radke said. Already, New York City and Hawaii County in Hawaii have raised the age from 18 to 21.
The sponsors of the Colorado measure are Sens. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, and John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Reps. Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen.
“Drinking is 21. Marijuana is 21. Gambling is 21. We’re just making tobacco 21 also,” King said. “It’s a consistency across those laws.”
He added that studies show people who haven’t started smoking by age 18 generally don’t start.
Colorado lawmakers look to outlaw tobacco use for those under 21 – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_25006278/colorado-lawmakers-look-outlaw-tobacco-use-those-under#ixzz2rp7x2OXR