Five members of the Democratic minority on the Monroe County Legislature have introduced a bill to raise the age for tobacco purchases in the county from 18 to 21.
Rochester Legislator LaShay Harris says the well-documented risk of smoking is even greater for young people, and increasing the purchase age will make them healthier in Monroe County.
The five legislators have the backing of the Smoking and Health Action Coalition, the American Heart and Stroke Association and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Rochester area.