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Hawaii Raising Smoking Age to 21

| April 27, 2015 Comment

Hawaii Raising Smoking Age to 21 – Hawaii might be the first US state to raise the legal smoking age to 21.

The measure, which was approved by the state senate this Friday, is awaiting the state governor, David Ige’s approval. According to the supporters of the bill, 90% of smokers start smoking and become addicted to cigarettes before the age of 19.

The new bill will prevent teens from buying, smoking, or possessing traditional or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Teens breaking the rule will have to pay fines or do community service.

According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, which is a part of the National Academy of Sciences, raising the legal age for smoking could result in a drop in prevalent smoking rates by 12%, and improve health and save lives.  Over the past 50 years, tobacco control has prevented 8 million fewer premature deaths from lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases, nearly 40 million Americans still smoke, and more needs to be done to control the use of tobacco.

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