In recent days in Suffolk County, stores show that the buying age of cigarettes and other tobacco products has increased. As of January 1, smokers have to be 21, instead of the original age of 19, to buy cigarettes and tobacco products. This bill was passed last March with hopes of decreasing the amount of young people who smoke.

The main goal of this law is to hinder the amount of young people smoking. By raising the age, it will be harder for young people to get cigarettes and other tobacco products. This will hopefully save lives in the end.

It can be said that customers not of age anymore are outraged. 7-Eleven owner, Joe DeVito, comments that, “Of course the younger ones think it is unfair and they can’t believe it’s not a uniform age across the state. It’s creating problems for the summer resident who comes from Nassau County.” Besides Suffolk County, New York City is also at age 21 for buying tobacco products. That bill was passed back in 2013 and has been in effect since 2014.

While Suffolk County has raised the age, some of the criticism arising from the business perspective is that businesses will lose money from the new age. “I don’t know if it’s gonna affect sales right away, but in the long run it will,” states DeVito. It’s too early to tell if sales are going down.

The new age will definitely be a difficult transition for customers and employees alike. It’s a whole new challenge on the employees to enforce the law onto the customer wishing to buy. Business’ could face up to a $1,000 fine if they sell any tobacco products to anyone under 21.