Advancing the Smoking Age to 21 in Saratoga County

Today, WNYT News Channel 13 posted about the latest county considering moving the smoking age from 18 to 21.  That would be Saratoga County- according to WNYT a county that is ranked one of the healthiest, however also has pretty high rates for the state of New York of lung, lip, and oral cavity cancers.  The change in law that is being discussed includes advancing the age not just for regular tobacco cigarettes, but also for chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and paraphernalia.

The topic of raising the tobacco age isn't new to New York.  Back in April, USA Today posted an article discussing a bill that at the time was Senate committee approved, to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Now, as a rock-and-roll fan, I can say there certainly is a lot of tobacco 'imagery' intertwined with classic rock.  I mean, hello- Motley Crue's "Smoking in the Boys Room"!  However, there are real life health implications to cigarette smoking.  Pretty severe ones.  I myself was a ripe age of 22 when I smoked my first cigarette, and it was because I was wasted and decided to try it.  I also no longer drink, and haven't for years, because I can't do it in a controlled manner.  So I'm a pretty poor example, because no matter what age I started I would've had issues, and I was over BOTH 18 and 21 when I first smoked.  That being said, I don't smoke cigarettes now, and I don't condone it- I see the health effects first hand as a nurse day in and day out.  So I don't have any problems with the age being raised to 21.  But that's just me.  What do you think, and why?  Let us know!