A Hawaii state lawmaker seeks to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 100.
Democratic Rep. Richard Creagan’s bill would raise the age people are legally allowed to buy cigarettes in five stages in the next five years: age 30 in 2020, 40 in 2021, 50 in 2022, 60 in 2023, and 100 in 2024.
“[I]ncreasing the minimum age could be effective in eventually eradicating the sale of cigarettes,” the bill says. “The legislature believes that banning the sales of cigarettes should be viewed as a good faith effort to free smokers from the enslavement of this powerful addition and not an infringement on individual liberties.”
The age limits would not apply to electronic smoking devices or cigars because Creagan views them as safer alternatives. Chewing tobacco is also not included in the ban.
“We don’t allow people free access to opioids, for instance, or any prescription drugs,” Creagan told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. “This is more lethal, more dangerous than any prescription drug, and it is more addicting.”
The state House Health Committee is set to take up the bill this week.
