If first you don’t succeed, waste the tax payers money and try again seems to be the motto in many states. This time around it applies to Rhode Island who last year attempted a similar measure to raise the age for tobacco purchases.
This time around the bill has been introduced by Representative Teresa Tanzi (D-34th District) and Senator Cynthia A. Coyne (D-32nd District). The legislation would raise the minimum age to purchase all tobacco products from 18 to 21 and would go into effect on January 1, 2017 should it pass.
According to Senator Coyne, “”We wait until people are 21 to grant them access to alcohol and gambling, because those are dangerous activities and we want people to make mature decisions about them.”
Well, Senator your argument fails to hold water, because if you can make a mature decision to join the military at 18 then you should have the same choice to make a decision to enjoy a cigar.
Rhode Island is seeking to become the second state to raise the age following Hawaii which already passed a similar measure.
