New Jersey Considers Increasing Smoking Age To 21

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (CBS) --  Smoking may soon be a lot harder in the state of New Jersey for young adults.

Legislators are now tackling a bill that would move the legal buying age from 19 to 21 years old.

Inside Sage Diner in Mount Laurel, some of the younger diners say they'd see classmates taking less smoke breaks at school.

Others say it's about sending the message to that age group about how detrimental smoking is.

The state would stand to lose nearly $1 million dollars in revenue every year on cigarette tax.

"We moved the drinking age from 18 to 21 and we've had better outcomes," Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt said.

Lampitt, one of the bill's sponsors, says it would save millions in health care for would-be smokers if they never start.

"Moving it just a few more years could prevent youth from adopting addictive behaviors," she says.

The senate and assembly have already passed the legislation.

It now goes to the house floor.

Hawaii is the only other state to up the legal smoking age to 21.

Debbie Buzzard has been smoking since she was 18 and told Eyewitness News she thinks it would be a great move.

But others say adults are old enough to make their own decisions.