MA Kids With Powerful Stories Meet With Lawmakers On Need To Raise The Sale Age Of Tobacco

BOSTON - Oct. 25, 2017 - PRLog -- Today, young people from across the state met with lawmakers about the need to pass legislation this year to raise the sale age of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21 in Massachusetts.

The students told lawmakers why the legislation is important to them and about the need to stem the tide of teens taking up smoking.  Some spoke of  loved ones with smoking related illnesses, while others said they simply do not wanting to see their friends start smoking.

"We want to stand up to Big Tobacco and let them know that we won't allow them to target us," said Hayli Manning, a Junior from Holbrook and volunteer with The 84, a statewide movement of youth fighting tobacco in Massachusetts.  "If the legal age is raised, it will make it much more difficult for youth to begin smoking.  I support raising the age to 21 to prevent future parents like mine, from ever becoming smokers."

Research shows 95% of smokers started before the age of 21.  Legislation sponsored by Rep. Paul McMurtry (H.2864) and Sen. Jason Lewis (S.1218) would raise the sale age of tobacco products from 18 to 21.

"While today we listed 21 reasons to raise the sale age of tobacco to 21, there are hundreds of reasons to do so," said Sarah Ryan, also a Junior from Holbrook of The 84.  "This is a public health concern.  We as youth are tired of being Big Tobacco's target.  We need your support to protect young people from a lifetime of nicotine addiction."

Every year in Massachusetts, nearly 3000 kids become new daily smokers, and 103,000 kids in the state under the age of 18 now will ultimately die prematurely from smoking.

Tobacco 21 legislation has been implemented on the local level in nearly 160 cities and towns across Massachusetts, including Boston, Worcester, and Lowell. Several other municipalities are considering similar regulations.  Last session, Tobacco 21 legislation had widespread, bi-partisan support on Beacon Hill, with passage in the state Senate and more than 100 House sponsors.  Advocates are urging lawmakers to pass this commonsense legislation statewide this year.

ABOUT: Tobacco Free Mass is a privately-funded coalition that advocates for funding and policies that support tobacco prevention and cessation and the reduction of exposure to secondhand smoke. The coalition was formed in 1991 to pass Question One, which raised the state's tobacco excise tax to fund, in part, the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program and other public health initiatives.
The Coalition continues to advocate for funding and policies to reduce death and disease caused by tobacco use. Tobacco Free Mass carries out its mission with the help of more than fifty member organizations and 10,000 grassroots advocates from across the Commonwealth.

https://tobaccofreema.org/