Legal Smoking Age Could Be Raised to 21

WICHITA FALLS - Texas could become the 3rd state to raise the smoking age to 21, with some lawmakers saying this is the year they could make that happen.

Senator Carlos Uresti pitched raising the legal smoking age four times in the past, but this year he has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. And, Republican Senator Joan Huffman is expected to file a bill too.

S.B. 183 would increase the legal age to 21 to purchase, possess or consume tobacco or nicotine products--including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

Of course, health educators are all for it, but many people we spoke with say it should remain the person's choice from 18 years old and up.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, 5.6 million of today's youth will one day die prematurely from a smoking-related illness.

And some Texas lawmakers hope to help change that number by voting to raise the age of legally purchasing tobacco products to 21.

"Any time you can delay those negative behaviors, the better chance we have that children will not begin to start smoking," said Lou Kreidler, the Director Of Health at the Wichita County Public Health District.

Amanda Kennedy, a health educator at the Wichita County Public Health District, says she used tobacco products for 15 to 20 years, starting as early as 8 years old. She stopped after being diagnosed with acinic cell carcinoma.

"It was the environment that I grew up in, thought it was OK, thought it was acceptable," Kennedy said. "I didn't understand the consequences of using tobacco at all, and I didn't understand that it was a lifestyle and that that was a lifestyle I was making. But now I do understand that, and now I'm trying to help my own environment and show youth that this is not something that you have to do."

She said she tells her story to the youth in our area, hoping to make a difference.

"Even though you're going to college at 18, 19, and 20, you can still be in danger of using tobacco and doing it on a daily basis," said Kennedy. "And it's becoming an addiction in your life and controlling you, instead of you controlling it."

Sayed Ali is the manager at Kemp Discount Store, he says he agrees with raising the age, even with the possibility of the store losing sales.

"It will be better if it's 21," Ali said. "It will be more beneficial to them, health wise also."

But residents we spoke to say it should be up to the person to make the choice.

"I think 18 is old enough for people to decide if they want to smoke or not," said Charlie Parks. "I think 21 needs to be the age for alcohol, but not necessarily smoking. I think smoking can stay where it's at." 07;07;12;13

"I mean it's your health on the line, it's not nobody else's," Dorian Norwood said. "It's your choice to make that decision if you want to risk your life or not."

Studies show smokers cost U.S taxpayers as much as $170 billion in health care expenditures each year.

We'll be tracking to see if the bill passes during legislative session. 

The Texas Tobacco-Free Action Summit is February 4 at the MPEC. Register by January 18 over on txsaywhat.com.