Could Healdsburg Raise Cigarette-Buying Age to 21?

Healdsburg might soon have something in common with New York City.

The Big Apple last month raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, and a majority of Healdsburg City Council members this week said they'd like the same to happen here.

According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Healdsburg officials discussed moving forward with a plan first discussed two months ago to raise the age to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products. All but one council member supported the move, despite a warning from City Attorney David Warner, the Press Democrat reported.

“There is some risk involved, potential litigation if we get too far ahead (of other cities),” the Press Democrat quoted Warner as saying.

Like in New York, the change in Healdsburg wouldn't outlaw smoking by those younger than 21–it would just prohibit them from buying cigarettes. It would be the first such law in California if adopted.

Critics in New York and Healdsburg City Council Member Gary Plass oppose the move, saying it's unfair to allow 18-year-olds to join the military and vote, then say they aren't mature enough to decide whether or not they should smoke.

In 2005, the Boston suburb of Needham, MA., raised its tobacco-buying age to 21. The smoking rate in that city is now 56 percent less than the overall Massachusetts rate, according to data from officials there.

Stores in Healdsburg could also be squeezed by any law raising the age to purchase cigarettes.

The president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores told the New York City Council that raising the age to purchase cigarettes would also cut down on "incidental" purchases like coffee and lottery tickets, possibly causing "thousands" of store employees to lose their jobs, according to the New York Times.

Healdsburg officials could take a formal vote on an increase to the tobacco-buying age in late January, the Press Democrat said.

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