News | Vermont to Join 21 Movement ?
In Massachusetts city after city has begun to raise the smoking age to 21. States such as California, Washington, Utah and Rhode Island have bills on the table that would raise the age from 18. You can now add Vermont to the mix.
Representative George Till, a Democrat from Jericho who proposed similar legislation last year has introduced a measure to raise the age again this year to 21.
In a hearing before the House Human Services on Tuesday, Till argued that cities like Needham, MA which raised its smoking age in 2005 has an adult smoking rate below the state average.
The state committee is not buying it as they recall the outrage in the 1980s when the liquor age was raised and they are concerned the military might push back against the proposal.
Before the bill can advance it must visit be voted on by the Human Services committee which has yet to do so.
Vermont is home to over 626,000 residents over 9,620 square miles and became a state in 1791.
I remember when Vermont was holding their ground on the drinking age, and ultimately succumbed to the threat of withholding of federal highway funds and raised the age to 21 from 18. That was only in the last 20 or so years. So sad to see this state, which was so fiercely independent, joining the nanny state. If Maple Syrup is found to be bad for you and banned, will they roll over so easily?