Christie Vetoes Increasing New Jersey’s Smoking Age to 21

On Tuesday, Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would increase New Jersey’s smoking age from 19 to 21. Bills to increase the smoking age are the in thing now in many states. This is the first time that we’ve heard of a Governor vetoing a bill to increase the smoking age. We at CigarIntel firmly believe that if you can die for your country serving in the military that you should be able to smoke a cigar so we wholeheartedly support Governor Christie’s veto.

The Democrat led legislature approved the bill included fines of up to $1,000 for retailers who sell cigarettes and other tobacco products, including cigars, to anyone under 21 years of age.

“We could have made New Jersey a leader, becoming just the second state to raise the age to 21, a move that is supported by an overwhelming majority of the public,” said Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, who was lead sponsor of the bill in the Assembly. “Instead, the governor is playing right into the hands of the tobacco industry, which prizes this key demographic.”

In 2014, Governor Christie also vetoed a bill to extend a New Jersey smoking ban to parks and public beaches, saying local municipalities should be able to decide where smoking should be allowed.

Way to go, Governor Christie!