New Law Will Raise Smoking Age To 19

AUSTIN, TX – A new bill passed by the Texas State Senate will require people to be 19 years of age to buy tobacco products.

The bill was introduced by Senator Carlos Uresti of San Antonio. Uresti stated the reason behind the bill is to prevent more kids and teens from smoking.

Proponents of the bill state most kids get their cigarettes from students who are 18 years old. If the new law is passed, they will have trouble gettingcigarettes at school because they wouldneed to seek someone who is 19 years old.

Student Sheena Gillespie is in favor of the law. She tells ABC-7,”it’s too young to smoke at that age, because of all the damage it does to you.”

Another students, Marti Rogers, disagrees. He tells ABC-7,”I think it’s dumb…People wait to turn 18 because of the freedom…Now you have to wait one more year.”

The law still needs to be passed by theTexasHouse of Representatives and signed into effect by Governor Rick Perry.