By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) — Illinois is moving closer on an age limit of 21 for the purchase of tobacco products.
The Senate voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that raises the legal age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21.
Rauner had vetoed the measure saying it would drive young adults to neighboring states to buy tobacco products.
But the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), says the change is needed to prevent high schoolers from picking up the habit.
“Nine out of 10 of today’s smokers, current smokers, began as teens,” Morrison said. “We are anticipating a 25 percent drop in teen smoking when this age change would go into place.”
The bill now heads to the House.
Copyright 2018 WLS-AM News
