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East Texans voice support, opposition to bill aimed at raising smoking age

Supporters of the bill believe the new regulations will help cut down on the number of young smokers. Opponents say 18 year olds are capable of understanding the risks and should be allowed to make their own decision.

TYLER, Texas — There are currently eleven states that passed legislation raise the minimum age to buy tobacco to 21. Texas may be the 12th. 

The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 21 Tuesday, which raises the age to buy and use cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21. 

RELATED: Texas Senate passes bill to raise smoking age to 21

The legislation marks a major step forward in the fight to further reduce the already falling number of tobacco users nationwide. However, according to the Texas 21, 10,400 Texan children become daily smokers every year.

"Most of the time, it’s a pack here, a pack there," Dena Thasker, who manages a Valero gas station in Tyler, said. "But then, you have people who will come in and they rather just buy multiple packs." 

Thasker says there are only a few reasons why people stop at a convenience store: To buy gas, snacks, scratch-offs or cigarettes. 

"We do a lot of cigarette sales," Thasker said. "We get at least an order every week just to make sure we have enough to cover everything. Sometimes, we still run out before we get some more."

A few years ago, Thasker decided to ditch her smoking habit. 

Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows nearly half a million Americans die each year from tobacco use.   

A few years ago, Sandra Collins' husband was one of those deaths.

"My husband died in 2010 of lung cancer, and he was an avid smoker, smoking one cigarette behind the other," Collins remembered. "They need to raise the age up to 21, because it's a health hazard."

While understanding the acknowledging the risks of smoking, opponents of the bill believe it is the individual smoker's responsibility to determine whether or not they should buy their next pack.

“I think that they should keep it the way it is,” Dustin Juarez, who opposes SB 21 said. “As long as they keep responsible gas station clerks checking IDs and keeping them away from the products, I think they should be just fine.”

Juarez is 24 and a tobacco user. He says when a person reaches the age of 18, they are legally recognized as an adult. As an adult, Juarez believes a person is able to make the decision to smoke despite the numerous risks.

From a personal aspect, Dena Thasker supports Senate Bill 21, but from a business standpoint, she realizes if the bill passes, it could negatively affect sales. 

"It might slow it down for a little bit," Thasker explained. "It'll be different for sure. I know I'll probably have a lot of young mad customers if they go up to 21. Either they’ll accept it or they’ll try to figure out a way to get it.”

An amendment to SB 21 exempts active duty military, allowing those 18 and older to show their military ID to purchase tobacco products. 

The author of the bill, Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), says she hopes the amendment helps to avoid confusion when these individuals are required to move across state lines for duty. 

The bill will be sent to the Texas House of Representatives for consideration. If approved by the House and Gov. Greg Abbott, the law would go into effect Sept. 1.  

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