Aiming to Raise the Legal Age for Cigarette Sales to 21 in California

            The argument of this article is showing the benefits of changing the legal age from 18 years old to 21 years old to purchase cigarettes and any other tobacco products. “That change could help prevent many young people from becoming addicted and reduce premature deaths from lung cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.”

An editorial article by The Editorial Board, of NY TIMES Sunday review. California, is working on a package of bills tackling cigarettes and tobacco products as the broad of California’s main focus of issues. As the bill stands right now, it’s in the final passage to the state senate awaiting approval. A number of U.S cities and counties have adopted the right to pass a law to raise the legal age for purchasing any tobacco products to 21. 100 cities and counties. Hawaii was the first U.S state to pass the law last year Hawaii.

The benefits of moving the legal age from 18 to 21 has strong research and clinical studies backing up the claims. “The biggest reason to raise the legal age to 21 is to reduce young people’s access to tobacco when they are more likely to become addicted and when their brains are still developing. Studies have found that nicotine, the main addictive ingredient in cigarettes, can impair cognition among young people.” Eventually, this law is going to be nationwide it’s just going to take some time because it’s still in the beginning stages. The pros of this law being pass definitely out weights the con because there’s no denying the studies done on tobacco products no matter what age group old, young, healthy, or whoever.

In this argument, passing this law can potentially save more people than hurting them. “A study concluded that changing the age to 21 should prevent 223,000 premature deaths and collectively add 4.2 million years to the lives of those born between 2000 and 2019.” It’s an interesting topic and one that seems to come up more times than anything. Tobacco products usually peaks the people’s best interest because there’s so many negative aspects of what tobacco products do to one’s health and the biggest one is causing lung cancer and the effects of second hand smoke.

           
          The author’s intended audience is for the younger adults and tobacco smokers. The author backs up the argument with studies done and the affects that cigarettes have on younger adults.Yes, I do agree with author’s claim, evidence, and logic on moving the age up from 18 to 21 years old. Its bill in the work’s no less but the bus is already on the road only a matter of time before its nationwide law just like alcohol’s drinking age not too long ago.