MONTPELIER — With little opposition and only a brief debate, the House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would raise Vermont’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21.
A final vote is required in the House on Senate Bill 86, and the Senate will have to consider a House amendment to change the effective date to Sept. 1. But Tuesday’s vote was a significant step that moves Vermont closer to joining a growing number of states that have implemented what backers call “Tobacco 21.”
Rep. George Till, D-Jericho, and a longtime advocate for raising the smoking age, highlighted a legislative finding that leads off SB 86: an estimated 10,000 Vermont children alive today are expected to die prematurely due to illnesses related to smoking.
“It’s almost certain that every person in this body knows some of these kids,” Till said before the House voted 124-14 to approve the measure.
Opponents cited concerns about preserving personal responsibility among young people. Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, said taking up smoking is a “bad choice” but noted that those over 18 can choose to join the military and can face life in prison for certain crimes.
“I think these things matter in terms of consistency between rights and responsibilities,” Donahue said.
The Tobacco 21 effort is growing nationwide. A recent count shows that 12 states have adopted the measure since 2015, and there have been several states added to that list this year.
There’s also a possibility that the change could be enacted at the federal level.
The momentum may be due in part to increasing concern about the effects of nicotine on young people.
“Teens get addicted to nicotine at lower levels than adults, and addiction is much more difficult to overcome,” said Rep. Jessica Brumsted, D-Shelburne and a member of the House Human Services Committee who presented SB 86 on the House floor on Tuesday.