Officials considering raising tobacco age to 21

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. » Doctors and educators are behind a proposed Dutchess County law that would raise to 21 the minimum age for purchasing tobacco.

Several area counties, including Sullivan County, have already made that move.

Dutchess County Board of Health member Dr. William Barrick, the recent past president of the Dutchess County Medical Society, told the county Legislature’s Government Services and Administration Committee that, while the opioid crisis is getting the attention now, statistics on smoking-related deaths are staggering.

“There are over 1,000 deaths per year in Dutchess County from complications related to smoking,” Barrick said. “Smoking is the number one risk factor for the top four out of five causes of death in Dutchess County, as evidenced by Board of Health statistics going back to the latest full year of 2016.”

Arlington School District Superintendent Brendan Lyons cited another compelling statistic on the significance of age.

“Ninety-five percent of adult smokers began smoking prior to turning 21,” Lyons said. “A 2015 report by the Institute of Medicine indicated that raising the age to 21 would significantly reduce the number of teens and young adults who start smoking and also change the cultural norms around the acceptability of smoking.”

Lyons said that is of particular concern because there are 537 students at Arlington High School who are 18 or will be by the time they graduate.

All three speakers also opposed any amendment that would exempt military personnel from the law.

“We care as much about our soldiers as we do the rest of our youth,” Barrick said.