Emanuel Wants To Raise Age To Buy Tobacco In Chicago To 21
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Turning 18 in Chicago might no longer bring the freedom to buy tobacco products in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said he wants to change the legal age to buy tobacco in the city to 21.
The mayor will introduce the proposal to the City Council on Wednesday.
Emanuel said it's all part of his effort to prevent young people from becoming addicted to potentially deadly tobacco products.
New York City, Evanston, and Hawaii already have raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21.
In addition to the new age restriction in Chicago, taxes also would increase on cigars, chewing tobacco, and roll-your-own cigarette tobacco pouches. The tax increase would raise about $6 million, which the mayor has said would be used to pay for expanding freshman orientation programs at Chicago public high schools and a summer school program for at-risk 8th graders.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the average smoker shaves 10 years off his or her life due to their habit; and 480,000 Americans die each year due to smoking-related diseases.