Smoking age may be raised in Westchester

<p>It may soon be harder for teens in Westchester to buy cigarettes. County legislators are considering raising the age to buy all tobacco products from 18 to 21. &nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Apr 28, 2017, 1:57 PM

Updated 2,546 days ago

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Smoking age may be raised in Westchester
County legislators are considering raising the age to buy all tobacco products from 18 to 21. 
Doctors at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers say kids are less likely to become addicted to nicotine when they're older.
"If we now increase the age, the brain is more mature and has not been exposed to any nicotine products and they get to 21 without exposure, in theory we should have less chronic smokers over time," says Dr. Rajendra Rampersaud.
On the state level, Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring a bill to raise the age. 


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