New tobacco policies will protect youth

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death. Each year, more than 28,000 New Yorkers die from tobacco use. Some 95 percent of smokers start before the age of 18. If we want to improve the health of Capital Region residents, we need to help those who are smoking quit and prevent youth from starting. We can accomplish this if we decrease the accessibility, the affordability and the attractiveness of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.

Passing the state Senate on Monday and now on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk is a policy measure he proposed in his budget that will do just that. Cuomo proposed raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to 21. He also has proposed ending tobacco sales in pharmacies, eliminating discounts on tobacco and vape products, requiring that e-cigs only be sold through licensed retailers, giving the Department of Health the authority to eliminate flavored e-cig liquids, and limiting tobacco product displays and promotions to adults-only retailers. All these are evidence-based policies that will decrease the number of youth who start smoking and will support smokers with their quit attempts.

St. Peter’s Health Partners is committed to improving the population health of the Capital Region. We applaud the governor’s proposals and the passage of Tobacco 21 and urge the state Legislature to support the rest of these effective measures as well.