California’s new tobacco law to take effect Thursday
UPDATE 6/8/2016 10:30 PM:Salinas Smoke Shop manager Michael Warrick has been busy educating his staff on new state regulations affecting tobacco users.
“We’re going to have to make sure everybody is looking for the new dates and make sure to look for counterfeits,” said Warrick.
A series of tobacco-related laws will go into effect on Thursday, including increasing the state’s minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21.
Warrick said younger customers are being told they won’t be able to come in anymore and expects a slight dip in sales.
“Because we’ve had a lot of good customers that… have been here for a while. They’re just not quite the 21 age yet,” said Warrick.
California is the second state after Hawaii to raise the legal age to 21.
“We feel that delaying the initiation of tobacco use will decrease people being addicted to tobacco in the future,” said Gonzalo Coronado with the Monterey County Health Department.
Most smokers have their first cigarette before the age of 21 and 90 percent of them become addicted.
Coronado said smoking-related illnesses cost the county more than $190 million a year.
“That is $115 million from direct health care costs and $75 million from lost productivity and death. So this is a substantial effect on our county and hopefully this new law will minimize that,” said Coronado.
Tobacco companies have opposed restrictions on sales but even a smoker like Warrick said he supports the new law.
“I think it’s actually quite good,” said Warrick. “Give the children a better chance at a better life.”
There will also be new restrictions on e-cigarettes and designated smoking areas in public schools. Military personnel with an identification card can still buy cigarettes if they’re 18.
PREVIOUS: Beginning Thursday, the legal age for buying cigarettes in California will increase from 18 to 21 years of age. New restrictions on e-cigarettes and designated smoking areas in public schools will also take effect.
How will local smoke shops handle the new regulations, and what are they telling their customers?
Monica Jacquez reports tonight at 10 on the CW and 11 on KION, your Central Coast News Source.
