NY raises age bar to 21 to buy cigarettes

New York, May 19: New York raised the minimum age to buy cigarettes to 21, in its latest initiative to encourage healthier behaviour among residents.

The law, signed November 19 shortly before former mayor Michael Bloomberg finished his second term, had a six- month waiting period before it came into effect — but its impact can already be clearly felt.

“Under 21, no tobacco,” warned a small sign at the entrance of a small shop that sells smokes, newspapers, candy, coffee and cakes, in the Nolita neighbourhood ( North of Little Italy). No tobacco, either, for anyone who can’t present a valid ID proving their age. Shopkeeper scan IDs to test their authenticity before handing over the box of cigarettes.

The measure — unprecedented among America’s big cities — raises the legal age to buy cigarettes from 18. It also applies to other forms of tobacco.

It’s the latest of New York’s efforts to reduce smoking in the city, which bans cigarettes and, as of April 29, e- cigarettes in restaurants and bars, in parks or squares, and at the city’s public beaches.

Some private residential buildings have also banned smoking. Cigarette taxes in the city are the highest in the country. — AFP Brussels, May 19: European Union member states are only slowly increasing overseas aid and need to nearly double their efforts if they are to hit their 2015 target, a report said on Monday.

A report on 2013 Official Development Assistance ( ODA) prepared for the 28 member nations showed they provided 56.5 billion euros in aid that year, up from 55.3 billion euros in 2012.

Collectively for 2013, they spent 0.43 per cent of gross national income ( GNI), a measure of total annual economic output, the report said.

At the current rate of increase, ODA will likely amount to only 0.45 per cent of GNI by 2015, needing another 41.3 billion euros to hit the target of 0.7 per cent.

The European Council, which groups the EU political leadership, said it “remains seriously concerned about ODA levels” and reaffirmed the commitment to aid targets. Member states falling short of their individual targets “are invited to take realistic, verifiable actions” so as to make up lost ground, a statement said. — AFP