DuPage County Health Board Urges Cities To Increase Smoking Age

WHEATON, IL — The DuPage County Board of Health announced Friday its support of laws to bump the age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. In a press release, the county heath department said that tobacco use is a contributing factor in the leading causes of death in DuPage County, which include cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease.

"Numerous studies show that raising the minimum legal sale age for tobacco products to 21 is an effective intervention," said Karen Ayala, executive director, in a press release. The county also pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 95 percent of adult smokers begin before the age of 21. Many of those move from the experimental phase to regular use between the ages of 18 and 21.

Since 2014, several cities have increased the smoking age to 21, starting with Evanston, spreading to Chicago, and, most recently, Naperville in 2017. Ayala said the county is, "providing local municipalities and state legislators support and guidance that promotes the well-being of our youth." Neighboring Kane County Health Department is on board with the 21 and up law, too.

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