When the state Legislature reconvenes in September, one of the topics facing members of the House and Senate will be raising the smoking age in Pennsylvania from 18 to 21.

The legislation has been boosted by two recent studies that show that states that have tobacco-21 laws have lower smoking rates among young adults than those with a lower legal minimum age.

The studies, with data taken from among 1,869 young adults, showed that those living in states with the higher age limit were 39% less likely to begin the habit than those living in states with a lower age limit.

The lead researcher, Abigail Friedman, said this reduction also carries over to friends who are influenced by their peers’ actions.

A bill introduced last legislative session by Vanessa Lowery Brown, D-Philadelphia, languished in committee until it died. A committed nonsmoker, Brown believes that smoking should be banned in all public places, including casinos and bars.

Brown said that smoking is more harmful than alcohol, and the legal drinking age throughout the country is 21, so she believes the same should be true for smoking, too.

Some proponents even recommend the age limit should be 25, but most concede that this is unattainable under virtually any circumstances.

Some progressive communities have attempted to circumvent the reluctance of state legislators to approve raising the legal smoking age but found out that there are pre-emption laws in Pennsylvania.

This means that even if a city, borough or township wanted to enact its own higher legal smoking age, it cannot without running afoul of state law. “Pre-emption laws are impeding public health,” researcher Friedman said.

There are 16 states which have enacted tobacco-21 laws.

Smoking, even among teens, has decreased dramatically in the United States since warning labels were mandated on cigarettes and other tobacco products packaging in 1965.

Fewer smokers also have been attributed to education programs, changing attitudes and the higher cost of smoking because of increases in what is referred to as a “sin tax.” A pack of Marlboro cigarettes, the nation’s most popular brand, was going for $8.52 a pack at Weis Markets in Brodheadsville.

New York City officials raised the base price of cigarettes from $10.50 to $13 a pack in June 2018. They believe the increase will prevent people from starting to smoke and encourage current smokers to quit or cut back. The city’s health department says the number of young smokers declined by 70 percent between 2001 and 2017, largely because of price increases.

Now, however, there is a new problem — electronic cigarettes — whose use also is coming under federal and state scrutiny. The Food and Drug Administration has restricted the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and banned menthol cigarette and flavored cigars.

These moves are in part a response to the alarming increase in rates of young smokers released last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These revelations prompted Juul, the leading e-cigarette manufacturer, to announce that it has stopped selling flavored Juul pods in stores; they are available only online to consumers who prove they are at least 21.

Some former smokers have been critical of the e-cigarette restrictions, saying that they have used them as a way to give up cigarettes. The question, however, is whether e-cigarettes are safer than conventional tobacco.

Cigarettes are at the top of the list of preventable death in the United States. Nearly a half-million people die every year from tobacco-related diseases and complications, according to government statistics.,

Putting this into perspective, this means that tobacco kills more people than motor vehicles, firearms and drugs combined. Smoking increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, COPD, asthma, diabetes and most cancers. If this doesn’t get your attention, how about this: On average, smoking reduces your life expectancy by 10 years, researchers maintain.

Also, consider this: There is no way that tobacco would ever be approved today as a new product coming to market.

But after all is said and done, prohibiting vices doesn’t work. Whether it is smoking, alcohol, gambling or pornography, those determined to do so will find a way to get around prohibition laws.

This should make us all the more determined and cause us to try harder.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com