Illinois has joined Arkansas, California, Illinois, New Jersey,Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine, Utah, Washington and Virginia in raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB0345 bill (“Tobacco 21”), which restricts the sale of both tobacco and vaping products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes to persons under 21 beginning on July 1, 2019.
“This is action that’s supported by the surgeon general, the American Cancer Society, our own Illinois Department of Public Health, our local health departments, by all available research, every standing here and by common sense,” Pritzker said.
The bill, which took years to pass, not only raises the age to purchase, but seeks to eliminate exposure to younger children.
“Often, we only think of the 18, 19 and 20-year olds being affected by this law, but actually the target age group is the 14-17-year olds. One of the points of this legislation is to remove the 18-year-old supplier from the high schools,” said Rep. Camille Lilly of the 78th District. “This legislation will reduce youth tobacco use in Illinois by at least 25-percent over time.”
Chicago raised the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 in 2016; 34 other municipalities in Illinois have raised the age since then.
According to a 2017 Chicago Department of Public Health survey, Chicago saw a 36-percent decline in cigarette and e-cigarette use among 18-to-20 year-olds after the change.
HB0345 also eliminates penalties for underage possession, but businesses will continue to face penalties for selling to people under 21.
While the bill passed with bipartisan support, opponents argue that the age increase takes choice away from adults, who by 18 are allowed to vote or join the military. Some also believe that it will drive business to other nearby states where 18 is still the legal age to purchase tobacco products.
