New Jersey Tries Once Again to Increase Smoking Age to 21

Another bill to increase the smoking age in New Jersey to 21 has found its way to Gov. Chris Christie's desk once again, thanks to NJ lawmakers.

SNJ Today reports, the State Assembly approved the age change from 19 to 21 on June 22. With this measure, you'll have to be 21 to purchase tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed this bill around this time last year, catering to store owners and retailers who claim the age change will affect their sales.

Under this bill, retailers guilty of selling tobacco products to underage people will result in a $1,000 fine, and no penalty to those caught smoking.

Now, we were talking about this briefly on The Mike Show this morning. Mike supports the age change, and called me a cop-out for being indifferent towards it.

Hear me out, though! Increasing the smoking age sounds like a GREAT idea. It makes it more difficult for young people to get cigarettes, and get hooked on a habit detrimental to their health.

BUT, how much will this really be enforced? When I was younger, getting a pack of cigarettes wasn't very hard to do. So I do not see how changing the smoking age will make much of a difference.

I want to hear your thoughts. If you think I'm wrong, please feel free to tear me a new a**hole.

Read the full story on SNJ Today.

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