By Nick Buglione
In a roundtable discussion at the East Meadow Public Library, parents, civic activists and health officials of No Smoke 19 weighed the potential benefits of such a law, while tackling questions from those doubtful the measure will significantly curtail smoking among teenagers.
"We hope that we will get this bill passed," said Pat Maher, an East Meadow civic activist who started No Smoke 19 and is challenging Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) for her seat in the Legislature. "The kids deserve it."
Currently, anyone 18 and older can purchase tobacco products in Nassau County. The problem with the current law, according to No Smoke 19, is that some teens are still in high school when they turn 18, and often volunteer to buy cigarettes for their underage peers. Raising the legal age to 19 would inhibit high school students' ability to get their hands on cigarettes, the group says.
Though the law was introduced in the county Legislature, the Health Committee voted 4-3 on June 20 to table the so-called Tobacco 19 legislation.
Since the bill was introduced by a Democrat, Legislator Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside), and Democrats hold a 4-to-3 majority over Republicans on the Health Committee, supporters expected the law to pass committee, which would then bring it before the full Legislature for a vote.
Believing that the Legislature might be moving too quickly on the measure before more information could be gathered, Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) and the three Republicans on the committee voted to table it.
With the bill now held up in committee, backers of No Smoke 19 fear it might never get to the Legislature for a vote. "Will [this law] have an impact? Will it reduce youth smoking? Yes," said Will Stoner, regional advocacy director of the American Cancer Society. "Youth are unfortunately getting their cigarettes from social sources."
A 1999 U.S. Centers for Disease Control survey of high school students found that 30 percent of adolescent smokers gave others money to by cigarettes for them, and another 30 percent "borrowed" cigarettes from others. "I've seen kids who look like they're 7 getting cigarettes from their older counterparts at high schools," said Kathleen Dooney, a nurse at Winthrop Hospital and a representative of the Nurses Association of the Counties of Long Island.
Working in a hospital, Dooney said, she sees younger and younger patients suffering from smoking-related illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. "On a daily basis we see patients who are acutely ill because of smoking," she said.
Suffolk and Rockland counties have both raised the legal smoking age to 19, while three states, Alaska, Alabama and Utah, have similar statues in place, Stoner said.
"When I thought it would become law here, I was elated," said Anne Ruvolo, a Merrick parent and PTA president. "I was very upset to find out that's not the case."
Not everyone is convinced that the law would make a difference. "If an 18- or even 17-year-old wants to smoke, let them," said Warren Koudelka of East Meadow. "Who cares?"
Debra Muller-Hillman, an East Meadow parent who attended the meeting, said she doesn't think it would be fair to deny 18-year-olds the right to smoke, considering that they're allowed to vote and join the armed forces.
Supporters of No Smoke 19, however, believe smoking is a privilege, not a right. "I understand that point of view and respect it wholly," Stoner said. "We're not talking about someone's right to vote or marry or join the armed forces. This isn't a right. It's not close to a right as far as I'm concerned."
Comments about this story? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
