Health committee recommends local 'T21' law to raise tobacco purchase age to 21; hearing set

Anna Kelles, chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, summarized committee discussion of a draft local law to raise the tobacco-purchase age to 21 (often called 'T21'), citing evidence from a National Academy of Medicine simulation that raising the age reduces years of life lost and improves population health.

"There is substantial evidence based off of a National Institute of Medicine study ... that changing the age to which they can purchase those products from 18 to 21 ... can have significant improvements in quality of life, years of life saved," Kelles told the full legislature. The committee also debated whether flavored or herbal mixtures such as shisha should be captured by the local law and whether draft language should include non-tobacco but tobacco-like products.

The committee voted to recommend a local law to the full legislature and requested that a public hearing be scheduled; Kelles said the hearing is being recommended for April 18 and that the committee will continue the policy discussion at its April meeting.