Should Illinois raise the age to buy cigarettes, tobacco to 21?

A bill to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 has made it one step closer to becoming the law of the land, but some retailers say the measure will drive Illinoisans to other states to get their fix.

“You’ll see businesses on the borders dry up,” said Bill Fleischli, Executive Vice President of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association and Illinois Association of Convenience Stores.

Fleischli argues Senate Bill 3011 — which has now made it out of committee and to the Senate floor for discussion — wouldn’t stop teens from smoking. Rather, it would tempt Illinoisans away from their local small businesses. And if smokers are willing to drive to Indiana for cigarettes, they’ll buy other products there too.

“They will also buy gasoline, Coke and other taxable items that could come back to Illinois,” he said.

Illinois would be an early-adopter if this legislation becomes law. Hawaii is so far the first and only state in the nation to raise the smoking age to 21, but other states like California and Washington are considering raising the age limit too. There are also states that have raised the legal age to 19, and plenty of counties and cities that have raised it to 21, including Chicago.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly nine out of 10 smokers start before they turn 18, and 99 percent start before they’re 26. The younger they begin, they more likely they are to become addicted to nicotine.

State Sen. John Mulroe, D-Chicago discusses why he’s sponsoring the bill, and one of the most important effects of the bill, here.

Like what you see here from Reboot Illinois? Then sign up for our daily email to get more great content right to your email.