SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – The Illinois Senate voted to raise the tobacco purchasing age in Illinois to 21.
BlueRoomStream reports the Senate voted 36-19 in favor of raising the age Wednesday afternoon. Illinois law currently requires buyers of tobacco products to be at least 18.
The bill still needs to go through the Illinois House to fully override a veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Rauner says he believes raising the minimum age wouldn’t stop young people from getting their hands on tobacco products and would “inhibit the choice of consumers”. He believes younger buyers would just get what they want from other states while the state would lose revenue.
“Furthermore, the existing penalty that this legislation removes for minors possessing tobacco is reasonable, provides the opportunity for education on the harmful effects of tobacco products, and is a disincentive for tobacco use,” Rauner said.
